Makhanda residents clash with police during shack demolitions as township unrest leaves municipal offices damaged.
Authorities said the land had been allocated for commercial projects, making the dwellings unlawful under municipal regulations.
Residents, however, argued that they had no alternative housing options and claimed their possessions were destroyed during the operation.
Makhanda illegal shack demolitions protest escalates
According to eyewitnesses, residents erected road barricades with stones before police responded with rubber bullets and stun grenades.
Community leader Vuyokazi Buwa described chaotic scenes as belongings were lost during the intervention.
“While we were still continuing to build, police arrived with a group of people. They said they are giving us five minutes to disperse. We asked how because our things are there, where will we go? A few minutes later teargas was released and shots were fired. People lost their stuff, their building material also burned. It was chaos,” Buwa told reporters.
Officials confirmed that municipal teams carried out the demolition in accordance with court rulings authorising the clearance of illegal dwellings.
Police response in Makhanda protest
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said forces remain on high alert and urged the public to avoid unnecessary movement in affected areas.
“Police have so far arrested two people, among them a councillor, on charges of contempt of court, trespassing and conspiracy to commit public violence. More arrests are imminent, as several law enforcement agencies are deployed to control the situation in Makhanda. The N2 highway is unaffected,” Gantana confirmed.
Authorities have warned that law enforcement operations will continue until stability is fully restored.
Local reports indicate that additional security reinforcements have been dispatched across sensitive municipal facilities to prevent further vandalism.
Community anger over shack demolitions
Residents of Eluxolweni township expressed frustration at the demolitions, saying the lack of affordable housing options left them with no choice but to occupy the land.
Some residents claimed their building materials were confiscated or destroyed, worsening tensions between the community and municipal officials.
The Makhanda Municipality insisted the land in question has been legally reserved for urban commercial expansion.
Municipal spokespersons said the structures had been built without permission and violated planning regulations.
Legal framework on land occupation
The South African legal system prohibits unauthorized land occupations, with municipalities given the authority to remove unlawful structures through court-backed eviction processes.
Courts have often emphasised the balance between property rights and human rights, but municipalities argue that unchecked occupation threatens long-term development plans.
Similar clashes have previously been reported across South Africa when communities resisted municipal enforcement orders.
Arrests following violent protests
Police confirmed that two suspects remain in custody and face multiple charges related to the unrest.
The councillor arrested is expected to appear in court alongside another community member, with additional charges under review.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the extent of damage caused to municipal properties during the violence.
Authorities have appealed for calm while legal processes unfold in court.
Impact on wider Makhanda community
The protests have raised concerns among business operators in the city, with some worried about potential disruptions to trade.
Police reassured the public that the N2 highway, which connects Makhanda to major towns, remains open and unaffected by the unrest.
Human rights organisations have previously documented tensions around forced evictions and called for improved dialogue between municipalities and affected communities.
Observers say Makhanda represents another flashpoint in South Africa’s broader struggle over housing and land allocation.
Municipal stance on future development
Officials reiterated that the contested land would not be used for housing but is instead intended for economic investment projects.
They maintained that illegal dwellings delay implementation of infrastructure programs designed to stimulate growth in Makhanda.
The municipality has not yet disclosed the specific commercial projects planned for the site.
Community members, however, continued to voice discontent, saying they were excluded from consultation and forced into vulnerability by the demolitions.
Further updates are expected as court hearings and municipal planning sessions proceed.
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Details of the protest and police intervention were first reported by SABC News and independently confirmed by News24.
