Muldersdrift illegal eviction claim a 'dishonest attempt to gain land'

Judge says occupation staged, throws case out

- By Boitumelo Kgobotlo

A group of 29 people who claimed they were illegally evicted from land in Muldersdrift have had their case thrown out by a Johannesburg High Court judge.

The court found that the occupation was staged to manipulate the justice system.

The applicants, led by Paul Mathlatjie, dragged the Mogale City local municipality and its officials to court, claiming that they were illegally thrown out of their residences.

He told the court that they had been living peacefully on Plot 80 since October 2024, with permission from the municipality, and that their homes were suddenly destroyed by the “Red Ants” security group on April 17.

The land was part of a broader state-backed housing project, with expropriation processes underway to build RDP houses. The property has been under constant watch due to fears of illegal occupation. The adjacent Plot 87 was already occupied illegally, and there is ongoing legal action to evict the occupiers.