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GEORGE NEWS - A delegation from the Department of Human Settlements and George Municipality’s Cllr Jean Safers, the MMC for human settlements, addressed the residents during a public participation session on the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Act, 1998.
The meeting for the Garden Route District was held at the Pacaltsdorp Community Hall on Monday 25 May.
The act aims to prohibit unlawful evictions and regulate eviction procedures. However, since its implementation, unlawful occupation of land and buildings has increased, including organised building hijackings, creating health, safety and financial challenges for municipalities, landowners and investors. The authorities say this has disrupted infrastructure and housing projects and placed strain on the existing legal framework.
The proposed bill seeks to strengthen the PIE Act by reducing municipalities’ financial burden and improving clarity and enforcement. The proposed amendments include broader definitions covering buildings and structures, and the introduction of terms such as “alternative accommodation”, referring to temporary emergency housing, and “person in charge”, referring to someone authorised to initiate eviction proceedings.
Attendees at the public participation session on the proposed amendments to the PIE Act. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel
The bill also proposes stricter offence provisions that would criminalise incitement of unlawful occupation, even where no payment is involved, with penalties of up to R2m. The courts would be required to consider the pace, scale and frequency of unlawful occupations, while all unlawful occupiers would be treated equally, regardless of how long they have occupied the land.
WATCH: Community members raise questions and shared concerns as government officials outlined the proposed changes and invited public input.
Additional changes include broader court powers relating to structures, compensation and temporary accommodation periods. Reforms would also require provincial human settlements departments, municipalities and other relevant state entities to be included in proceedings, while mediation would become compulsory where municipalities are the landowners.
During the session, the community members raised their concerns mainly about land ownership and the housing crisis in George. The organisers of the session said some contributions strayed into political agendas and outside the consultation’s scope.
The relevant questions were briefly addressed and will be included in the public participation record.
The bill was published in the Government Gazette on 16 April. Members of the public may submit comments to [email protected] by 16 June.
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