AfriForum has welcomed the ruling of Judge Raulinga, who ordered the illegal occupation of land in the Walmansthal area to cease. The ruling was given at an urgent application which was heard in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria today.

AfriForum's legal team had to intervene after representatives of the group, led by the notorious Captain Makene (former commander of Hammanskraal police station) and Sergeant Mosiya, had argued that they were the lawful owners of the land.

Judge Raulinga allowed the Walmansthal Communal Property Association, assisted by AfriForum, as an intervening party. The court conceded that this group of persons were the only people entitled to occupy the land, and that any other occupants would do so unlawfully.

The illegal squatters were given 15 days to remove their structures.

Judge Raulinga ordered the illegal occupiers to pay costs.

Statement issued by Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg, Head: Community Affairs, AfriForum, February 2 2012

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