SA GOVERNMENT MOOTS LAW TO STEM LAND GRABS

THE South African government plans to tighten a law against land invasions to stop a growing tendency by the homeless to occupy state and private land. Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele said the amendment would be aimed specifically at people who organise land invasions, saying the courts had been too lenient on them. She said the government was “in the process of strengthening” Section 3 (1) of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act to ensure than any land invasion was seen as an offence and that anybody who instigated one would be prosecuted. – AFP