People illegally occupied land in a South African city and are now causing problems for residents

Families and businesses in the Ruimsig suburb of Mogale City are increasingly distressed by the ongoing illegal occupation of privately owned land.

This is according to Mervyn Cirota, an attorney and a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, who recently visited the Pikoko informal settlement.

Pikoko informal settlement is located on property owned by the City of Johannesburg. However, this property falls under the jurisdiction of Mogale City.

“Mogale City and the Gauteng Provincial Government have failed to intervene and put a stop to this extended situation,” he said.

He will now ask them why they have not acted against the unlawful occupation of privately owned land by residents of the Pikoko informal settlement.

The Democratic Alliance recently did an oversight inspection of the area, which revealed that the Pikoko informal settlement has expanded dramatically.

The informal settlement borders the Jim & Jerry’s Driving Range, which is feeling the impact of the illegally occupied land.

“People are now erecting structures on land belonging to the driving range and some nearby properties,” Cirota said.

The owner of the golf estate expressed concern that his business is experiencing a decline in clients who no longer feel comfortable using the driving range.

This is because some residents from the nearby Pikoko community openly use substances on the property.

He further noted that despite repeated efforts by private security to dismantle the illegal structures built on the property, residents return to rebuild them.

Another property owner raised concerns that the lawless expansion of the informal settlement in a swamp area is affecting the environment.

The informal settlement is also driving down property values, leaving property owners to bear the financial consequences of government inaction.

“The lack of intervention by Mogale City, COJ and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements is concerning,” Cirota said.

“It shows a disregard for property owners’ rights and highlights the ineffectiveness of current measures to address unlawful land occupation in Gauteng.”

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Pikoko informal settlement

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