Land owner left helpless

PRIVATELY owned Table View land has been illegally occupied by people who built shacks and established an informal settlement on it.

The 62 hectare property is owned by a company called Welbeloond.

Owner Andrew Mellish said the land was first illegally occupied in 2019 and in the same year they applied for an eviction order.

“This was before Covid-19 and the sheriff of the court could not help us with the eviction,” Mellish said.

He said the people did not invade the land because of Covid-19 as had been the case with many vacant properties across the city.

Mellish said they tried seeking help but still nothing had been done despite them being in possession of an eviction order.

He said he had spent R3.5 million in legal fees to get the land back.

He said seeing that their land was lost, they offered the land to the City but were told that it was unsuitable for housing.

“The land had been earmarked for a business development since 2008,” Mellish said.

“The people living there are living under power lines and on flood lines which is very dangerous.”

Mellish added that the people were living without services because there was no water or electricity.

Despite the South African Board of Sheriffs not being aware of the matter, they advised what people could do in similar situations.

Complaints investigations officer Amish Gopie said if people needed assistance they should consult their website.

He said as much as everyone had rights, those rights should be exercised responsibly.