Civil rights organisation AfriForum achieved a success when the North Gauteng High Court ordered the Matlosana Municipality in Klerskdorp to pay for private land that is occupied by squatters.

This ruling comes after a protracted court battle regarding the relocation of the squatters to land provided by the Municipality. The Municipality however failed to get alternative land in time, and the Court made this ruling due to land ownership which was taken from the private owners.

“The Municipality and the MEC for Human Settlements as well as the North West Premier was ordered to pay rent to the private owners. And although the squatters have not yet been relocated, we welcome the Court ruling,” Carmea Huysamen, Provincial Coordinator for AfriForum in the North West said.

The ruling determines that the rent should be paid to the land owners until the squatters are moved, that the rent will escalate after one year, and that the squatters should be moved by the Municipality and the Premier.

“It can create a precedent for other land owners to enforce rent for their land occupied by squatters to protect their property rights.”

The Court is expected to determine a date for the relocation of the squatters in October 2014.