DA’s PIE Amendment Bill more vital than ever after Joburg fires
4 September 2023
Parliament continues to drag its feet in tabling the DA’s Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation Of Land Amendment Bill for its first reading in Parliament.
Until this is done, the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements cannot deliberate on the Bill which continues to have a severe impact for illegal land invasions across South Africa.
The fire that killed at least 76 people in a five storey building in Johannesburg on 31 of August indicates the severe problems that the Act has. Currently, the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998 (“PIE”), creates a rigid set of definitions and requirements that need to be followed in order for a person to be lawfully evicted.
Our contention is that the PIE Act must allow the state to prevent further unlawful invasions of land and criminally charge those who incite these invasions.