WESTERN CAPE. – The Western Cape High Court has authorised the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to follow an alternative notification process for its main court application regarding the occupation of state land at Knoflokskraal.
Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, welcomed the order and said it is an important first step to gather the necessary information about the people occupying the property and to handle the matter through a court-managed process. The main application is expected to be heard in February next year.
Luke Albert, Acting Media Liaison Officer in Macpherson's office, said the court order provides for an extended notification process to ensure that all affected persons, including those whose identity is unknown, are informed of the application and given an opportunity to participate in the legal process.
Notifications will be placed in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa in prominent places on the properties concerned. The process also includes announcements with loudspeakers, notification to community organisations, notifications in newspapers and online access to the court papers. Macpherson said the department is committed to a lawful, transparent and procedurally fair process under court supervision.
The department said the court order is a procedural step and not the final decision on the main application. The application and supporting documents are available at this link.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
