Contradictory instructions from politicians in Nelson Mandela Bay have earned it the title of worst metro when it comes to dealing with illegal land invasion.
Human settlements boss Nolwandle Gqiba revealed on Friday that the metro had regressed and was now considered the worst metro when it came to dealing with invasions.
Gqiba said that statement was made by human settlements minister Nomaindia Mfeketho during a recent meeting.
Gqiba was responding to allegations made by the ANC on Friday that officials were dragging their feet in implementing council resolutions to allocate land to people.
In her strongest defence yet, Gqiba closed ranks on officials, saying she would not sit back while officials were being blamed for something they could not control.
“I cannot keep quiet when officials are being blamed for something they don’t have control over,” she said.
“In 2017/2018, we were exemplary in making sure that evictions were done, but in a courteous and respectful way.”
Gqiba said they wanted to implement the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (Pie) Act, however they were stopped each time they tried to evict people.
“We are now the worst municipality when it comes to land invasions and as much as we want to enact the Pie Act, every time we go to the site and we have everything ready, all preparations have been done, the police are there and we are told to stop the eviction,” she said.
Gqiba said this sent the wrong message about the city’s stance on land invasions.
“We want to act on the Pie Act but if we are prevented at the last minute it is demoralising,” she said.
Gqiba said she was also concerned that the police would no longer take them seriously and would not arrive the next time an eviction was ordered.
When the ANC was in the opposition benches, it tabled a motion in council for the municipality to provide land for residents to build shacks.
In February 2018, shortly after he was ousted as deputy mayor, Bobani urged residents to continue building shacks on municipal land.
He also warned the municipality to refrain from harassing land invaders. But in January human settlements portfolio head Andile Mfunda made an about-turn and called on people to stop invading land.
Gqiba said the contradictions caused them to hit a brick wall as they could not implement the council resolution. “We are frustrated,” she said. ANC councillor Sizwe Jodwana accused the department of dragging its feet.
“This land invasion issue is becoming a serious problem and it poses a threat to the lives of councillors, especially those who are affected by these land invasions,” Jodwana said.
“It worries us honestly, because the reason why people have decided to invade land is the fact that the department is very slow in terms of implementing our resolution.”
Jodwana said he had been reliably informed that there were about 2,800 available sites. However, he suspected someone was deliberately dragging their feet.
But Gqiba said the installation of services was not to make way for shacks but for RDP houses.
Meanwhile, DA councillor Nqaba Bhanga called on the leadership to be decisive on the matter.
“Our city is being destroyed by people who occupy land wherever they want to and I am happy that there are councillors who see that this is destroying the characteristics and image of our city.
“We can’t allow this. “There is ungovernability and people are buying sites. We need decisive leadership [to] stop this,” Bhanga said.
Mfunda said: “Our position is clear, we must fast-track [the] issuing of serviced sites.
“We need to discourage people from occupying land where there is no service because tomorrow it will be a problem.
“Politicians and officials need to work together, sometimes people are frustrating, and I think their only solution is the proposed land audit.
“Let’s get pieces of land in the metro and fast-track serviced sites.
“If we are slow we are going to have a problem, this is the entire city’s problem.”