More than 700 structures were demolished by City Law Enforcement agencies over the weekend. According to a Cape Argus report, this comes days after the Western Cape High Court dismissed an application to evict 60 000 people living in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi. Three mass land invasions in Khayelitsha prompted the City to demolish at least 751 occupied and unoccupied structures.

Principal inspector for law enforcement Wayne Dyason said: ‘In Eindloveni, Khayelitsha, City enforcement agencies demolished a further 189 illegally erected structures. A further 45 structures were demolished in SST Section, Town 2, Khayelitsha. Both areas are currently calm.’ Dyason said it was the second time they had had to come back to Endlovini and the shacks that were not dismantled were those which had been there for a long time.

Dyason said between Swartklip, Oscar Mpetha Drive and Baden Powell Drive, 474 unoccupied structures were demolished and 43 occupied structures were identified and eviction will be effected via the legal process. Khayelitsha Development Forum chairperson Ndithini Tyhido said they are investigating corruption, as there are allegations that community leaders promised people land and sell it, saying they can erect shacks there.

Full Cape Argus report (subscription needed)