Today AfriBusiness approached the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria and obtained another successful application to have illegal land grabbers removed from private property near Mooinooi. This is the third land grab case in a row that AfriBusiness has won. The first successful application was granted in April this year after land was illegally occupied in Bronkhorstspruit; the second took place in Brits, in which case the order was granted in June this year.

“We are pleased with the outcome, especially since this is our third successful case of this nature. It is worrisome, however, that more and more landowners are subjected to this type of illegal activity,” says Armand Greyling, Law- and Policy Analyst at AfriBusiness.

The interim order which was obtained allows the owner to instruct the sheriff with the assistance of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to have the land grabbers removed from the property. To make the order final, the court will be approached on a later date once all respected parties have been informed and given opportunity to make submissions to the Court as to why the order should not be made final.

“We currently experience a direct attack on the property rights of private owners throughout South Africa, most of which are politically motivated and encouraged by public figures. Despite this onslaught, it brings at least some relief to know that the courts and the rule of law still reign supreme in the adjudication of such matters. It remains a travesty, however, that landowners should live in fear for the safety of themselves, their families and their property, simply for the sake of political gain”, Greyling concludes.

Issued by AfriBusiness