DWS to probe how some business owners acquired govt land around Hartbeespoort Dam

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Water and Sanitation said it would be investigating how government land was acquired by some business owners around the Hartbeespoort Dam.

Deputy Minister David Mahlobo led a dialogue in the area on Monday following months of racial tensions.

ALSO READ: Hartbeespoort business owners meet to hash out differences amid racial tensions

Black business owners in the area claim they have been ill-treated by their white counterparts, but some white owners have accused them and the media of racialising a non-racial issue.

One of the complaints raised by white business owners around the Hartbeespoort Dam is that licences, known as permission to occupy certificates, had been awarded illegally to undeserving business owners.

But black business owners have hit back at this notion.

"All my white counterparts, they have for more than 60 years occupied government land. They don’t have a lease or a PTO and it’s OK. All the white counterparts that are operating similar businesses, they have liquor licences, but they don’t have a lease or a PTO. How did they get it?”

Mahlobo said the awarding of land for business use would form part of the mandate that would be given to a committee that would be formed to monitor business relations in the area.