City Responds Swiftly to Protect Housing Project
CCN Online Reporter
Hout Bay:- An illegal land invasion in Hangberg, Hout Bay, has sparked tension in the community, after a site earmarked for formal housing development was unlawfully occupied and construction commenced without permission.
According to Ward Councillor Roberto Miguel Quintas, a member of the Hangberg community began erecting a structure on land that has been reserved by the City of Cape Town for a Breaking New Ground (BNG) housing project. The initiative is intended to provide legal title deeds and long-overdue housing opportunities to qualifying local residents.
Concerned citizens alerted City officials early yesterday morning when they noticed construction activity taking place on the protected site. In response, law enforcement agencies launched an anti-land invasion operation this evening under the Counter-Spoliation Act, to dismantle the illegal structure and secure the land for its intended purpose.
However, officers were met with hostility as flares were fired and rocks thrown at them during the operation. Authorities responded using non-lethal measures, to contain the situation and protect public safety.
Councillor Quintas has issued a plea to residents, urging them to remain indoors and avoid approaching the scene while the situation is being brought under control.
“We understand the frustration many feel regarding the long wait for housing, but illegal actions threaten the very developments our community needs. We call on all law-abiding residents to support efforts that ensure land is preserved for proper development, not seized unlawfully,” Quintas said.
The City has reiterated its commitment to delivering formal housing solutions to the people of Hangberg, and warned that illegal land grabs may delay or derail these much-needed projects.
Officials have emphasized the importance of cooperation from the public, noting that safeguarding designated development land is crucial for transforming Hangberg into a thriving, well-planned community.
