Zikalala issues eviction notices to over 100 illegal occupants in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN - Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala has issued eviction notices to more than one hundred illegal occupants who hijacked state-owned properties in Cape Town.

Zikalala visited properties in Goodwood and Khayelitsha meant for use by the South African Police Service (SAPS)  to issue the eviction notices as part of the department's operation Bring Back.

The nationwide campaign is being led by Zikalala with an aim to recover all stolen state land and property.

Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala said more than one hundred illegal occupants living in two state-owned properties in Khayelitsha and Goodwood have until midnight to vacate the buildings.

Zikalala said failure to comply will result in court action followed by evictions enforced by police.

"We have found that there is a trend where people will see unoccupied buildings and then they take them over illegally. It goes to the extent of renting them out as if they own them." 

Zikalala said the problem is extensive and underestimated.

"We are going to roll out this campaign all over the country to ensure that we reclaim government buildings."   

The Deputy Minister said the focus is on buildings in the immovable asset register of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.