HARTSWATER, Northern Cape — The Phokwane Local Municipality has issued a stern warning against illegal land occupation in Hartswater, Northern Cape, as residents living in an unauthorized informal settlement continue to face severe challenges in accessing basic services. The municipality emphasizes that the occupied land is not designated for human settlement, which complicates service delivery, while simultaneously outlining concrete steps to formalize the area through proper legal channels.
Residents, who maintain they have occupied the land since 2018, have expressed desperate pleas for essential services. Community members report a critical lack of water, electricity, and proper roads, noting that the area remains officially unclassified. The absence of basic infrastructure has created dangerous living conditions, with residents forced to rely on candles for lighting and paraffin for cooking, both of which pose significant fire hazards. During a recent shack fire, the community had to rely on neighboring dwellings for water, highlighting the severe risks during emergencies. Furthermore, the lack of proper road networks means ambulances and other emergency services struggle to access the area.
In response to the growing crisis, a spokesperson for the Phokwane Local Municipality confirmed that the local government is actively working to address the situation. The municipality is currently in the process of appointing a service provider to formalize the informal settlement for official township establishment. However, municipal spokespersons strongly appealed to community members to refrain from occupying vacant land unlawfully.
Officials emphasized that specific legal and administrative processes must be followed before any land can be developed. These mandatory procedures include budgeting for basic services and conducting environmental impact assessments to determine if the land is genuinely suitable for residential development. The municipality has urged residents to remain patient while these formalization processes unfold.
This local challenge mirrors a broader national effort to address unlawful land occupations. Between March and August, government officials traveled across the country to seek public comment on a draft bill aimed at amending the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act of 1998. The proposed legislative amendments are designed to combat illegal land invasions, protect property owners, and curb the activities of organized land syndicates. According to the government, these legal updates will also empower municipalities to plan more effectively and sustainably when providing essential services to communities.
