Land invaders should not have first dibs on free housing, says MEC
The time has come to stop prioritising free housing for illegal land invaders, Western Cape human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela said on Friday. Law breakers should not be rewarded at the expense of people who had been on housing waiting lists for decades, he told the media during a briefing about his department’s plans. Madikizela said land invaders were often prioritised because of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction From and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act‚ which forced the government to find alternative accommodation for evicted "squatters". He said the act needed to be revisited because it was being abused. Law abiding citizens‚ who deserved housing‚ were being disadvantaged as a result. "In SA you have this disturbing phenomenon where, if you are a hard worker‚ you are a law abiding citizen‚ you are contributing to the fiscus‚ you get punished for that‚" he said. "If you are on the wrong side of the law ... you get all forms of subsidies. Now that is a very disturbing ph...
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