The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, expressed grave concern over reports indicating that illegal land grabs have resurfaced in Fort Jackson, a region within the Buffalo City Municipality near East London in the Eastern Cape. Disturbing allegations have emerged that members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and officials from the Department of Correctional Services are actively participating in this organised criminal activity.
Cameron emphasised that the situation in Fort Jackson has escalated far beyond landless individuals seeking shelter. It has now evolved into a well-organized and high-value extortion racket. The land, which spans over 1,000 hectares, has allegedly been divided into 15,000 illegal plots, each approximately 300 square meters in size. These plots are being sold for roughly R50,000 each, resulting in a staggering R75 million in unlawful land sales.
In addition to the illicit land sales, households in the area are reportedly being charged “protection fees” of R1,000 per household for illegal Eskom and water connections. This further entrenches the criminality and significantly undermines municipal systems, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Of even greater concern is the fact that two separate court orders, which explicitly prohibit these land grabs, are being openly ignored. Cameron condemned this blatant disregard for the rule of law, stating, “This is exactly why the committee regards the erosion of property rights and the rule of law as an urgent national crisis.”
While the police had previously made arrests targeting known instigators, including individuals with connections to the taxi industry, the situation has only worsened since the withdrawal of charges against those arrested. Following this, illegal land grabs have reportedly resumed with renewed vigour, and there are signs of visible collusion between certain SAPS and Correctional Services officials.
To address this growing crisis, Cameron has announced that the Portfolio Committee on Police will undertake an oversight visit to the Eastern Cape next week. The primary focus of the visit will be the escalating issue of extortion and illegal land grabs in the area. During this visit, the committee plans to engage with SAPS leadership, local stakeholders, and affected communities to discuss and address the situation.
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