The North West Housing Corporation (NWHC) has welcomed the recent ruling by the North West High Court in Mmabatho, which dismissed an application for leave to appeal by illegal occupants of its land in Mmabatho.
The court previously granted an eviction order against the occupiers, who subsequently sought leave to appeal, contesting land ownership and raising procedural concerns regarding the original judgment.
The corporation has highlighted its intention to execute an eviction order granted against illegal occupants of a land belonging to the provincial government under the custodianship of the Department of Public Works and Roads.
The disputed land affects properties on portion 132 of the farm Mmabatho Town and Townlands 301-JC, as well as Erf 1733, Mmabatho Unit 6.
NWHC’s Secretary Solly Machaba told YOU FM Newshour that the ruling clears the path for the commencement of projects and developments earmarked for the land.
“The land in question is earmarked for the Mafikeng Student City Development Project, which will become a rental stock for the corporation.
It will be accommodation for students including a human settlement where anybody who has the need to rent is able to rent. We call it a Student City but it’s also a rental stock,” said Machaba.
Machaba emphasized that they’re ready to commence with the project following the court judgment.
“Without a doubt because the first ruling was the eviction order and we must remove the people legally after the court has ruled in our favour dismissing their appeal as baseless.
We are as a housing corporation ready to proceed with the inaction of the order,” explained the Secretary.
The corporation is also contemplating laying criminal charges against illegal land occupiers.
“This is clearly an illegal occupation of our land because there’s a court order to that effect that simply means we can execute the order.
If these occupiers refuse to vacate the land, we can open cases against them for contempt of court,” warned Machaba.
The company secretary said that the illegal occupation of their land is aimed at sabotaging the project that is imminent for development.
“In our view these are not people who are genuinely looking for a place to stay, but people who are actually acting as a sabotage to derail the project from implementation,” said Machaba.
Meanwhile, the NWHC has rejected claims that there’s a plan to sell Wimpy and Kagiso flats in Mahikeng.
“We are not at that stage yet, there are still ongoing negotiations.
There are people living in those properties and you cannot willy-nilly sell properties occupied by people on a rental basis.
You obviously must negotiate with them first to afford them the opportunity to buy properties in the event you decide to sell,” concluded Machaba.
