Sunset Ridge Estate Home Owners Association engages in a legal battle to evict squatters from Plot 25 in Rietfontein AH, east of Pretoria. Residents argue that the informal settlement has led to declining property values, increased crime, and widespread illegal dumping for over 13 years.
Despite multiple court applications, legal complexities have hindered the City of Tshwane’s efforts to remove the over 800 squatters. Authorities have struggled to locate the property owner, preventing further legal action.
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Estate residents told Rekord that the ongoing situation has stalled property development, with some landowners abandoning construction projects altogether.
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In 2019, the association petitioned the metro to intervene, alleging that the informal settlement harboured drug trafficking, illegal liquor sales, brothels, and constant noise disturbances. However, their concerns have yet to be fully addressed.
Association’s chairperson, Wouter Vink, said residents feel abandoned by the authorities.
“The squatting has resulted in serious health hazards, crime, and pollution. Potential buyers no longer want to invest, and homeowners are selling their properties before they lose more value.”
Burning of waste in the settlement creates hazardous air pollution, while illegal dumping has escalated to an industrial scale. Trucks reportedly queue up to dispose of waste, turning the area into an unregulated landfill.
Additionally, Vink raised concerns about sanitation, citing an inspection by the Health and Environmental Department in 2016 that found only one latrine serving 150 people.
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“It’s no surprise there is a nauseating stench coming from the camp,” he added.
Meanwhile, the association has called on the metro to compel the property owner to clean the site and evict the squatters by a set deadline, expropriate the property and auction it if the owner cannot be found and use the sale proceeds to cover cleanup costs and law enforcement efforts.
Furthermore, residents insist that a satellite police station be established in the Rietfontein and Mooikloof area to improve emergency response times, as Boschkop police station is 35 minutes away.
Ward 91 councillor Henning Viljoen stated that enforcement efforts are hampered by shack farming interests and insufficient by-law enforcement capacity. He acknowledged that illegal water and electricity connections are repeatedly removed but quickly restored by residents.
“The so-called ‘camp mafias’ are charging people to dump waste illegally,” he revealed.
Viljoen suggested that selling the land could accelerate efforts to relocate the squatters and restore order.
Moreso, the City of Tshwane’s health department has struggled to track down the property’s trustees. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) has been asked to increase patrols in the area.
“Since the land is privately owned, the city cannot take responsibility for preventing illegal dumping or clearing waste on the property,” Mashigo said.
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On December 9, the association and other stakeholders met with the MMC for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, to discuss the crisis. However, no response has been received regarding solutions to the crime and illegal activity plaguing the area.
Residents remain frustrated, urging authorities to act before the situation worsens further.
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