The draft bill published in the Government Gazette this week.
Cape Town - Human rights group Ndifuna Ukwazi says it hopes a new Prevention of Illegal Eviction from Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill, 2022 introduced by the DA will be aligned with protecting the rights of the landless and homeless.
In an explanatory summary of the draft bill published in the Government Gazette this week, the party seeks to amend, among others, certain definitions in the current Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE Act).
According to the draft bill the PIE Act “needs to be restricted in certain instances to prevent those unlawful occupiers, who have entered upon a property in bad faith, from using the PIE Act as a defence or delay tactic at the cost of the owner of the property”.
Ndifuna Ukwazi head of organising, Buhle Booi said they hoped the amendments would benefit residents who were being “strung along on a mythical waiting list”.
“The reason for rampant land occupations is in direct relation to the lack of delivery and acknowledgement of the right to housing.
“We are also concerned that the DA's position is regurgitating one side of the story, and does not account for addressing the systemic and historical issues relating to land occupations, especially given the history of the country. The actions of City of Cape Town law enforcement has inhumanly and illegally evicted families are testament to a culture of disdain for the laws of the country,” said Booi.
The DA called for interested parties and institutions to submit written representations on the proposed content of the draft Bill to the Speaker of the National Assembly within 30 days.
Representations can be delivered to the Speaker, New Assembly Building, Parliament Street, Cape Town; mailed to the Speaker at PO Box 15, Cape Town 8000; or e-mailed to [email protected] and copied to [email protected]
Cape Times