City officials are monitoring the Ndabeni Trust Land in Kensington after stopping what it called a “mass land invasion” over the weekend.
In a statement, the City said approximately 50 people attempted to illegally erect structures on the site, while only six community members held valid court orders allowing them to build.
The land was originally granted to the Ndabeni Land Trust by the State as part of a formal land restitution process.
The Trust approached SAPS to lay charges of trespassing.
“The Ndabeni Land Trust and the nearby community approached the City and pleaded for intervention to protect their land. The Trust also approached SAPS to lay charges of trespassing.”
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says Metro Police and law enforcement were deployed to protect the site….
In late October, the City demolished at least 30 structures at the Gate 7 informal settlement opposite the Maitland Cemetery.
Many of the residents initially moved to the land in 2026 to escape soaring rental costs in neighboring townships like Dunoon and Joe Slovo.