Koteng squatter camp cleared following eviction notice expiry
Tensions ran high on Tuesday as the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality moved in to dismantle and clear the Koteng squatter camp in Marble Hall town in Limpopo, following the expiry of a 15-day eviction notice issued to occupants.
Municipal officials, supported by law enforcement, carried out the removal and demolition of informal structures after repeated engagements with residents failed to yield a permanent solution.
The notice, which lapsed on 15 December 2025, instructed occupants to vacate the area and remove their belongings.
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According to the municipality, the informal settlement was erected on a municipal servitude, resulting in blocked drainage systems and preventing essential maintenance work.
Authorities also raised serious safety concerns, noting that the camp is situated within a designated blasting zone, a direct contravention of municipal regulations and a significant risk to human life.
The area had further become a hotspot for criminal activity. During the eviction operation, police arrested several suspects linked to house break-ins in surrounding neighbourhoods, who were reportedly using the settlement as a hideout.
Municipal spokespersons said the Koteng squatter camp had posed ongoing challenges to service delivery, public safety and environmental health, leaving the municipality with no option but to act.
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“The decision was not taken lightly,” the municipality said in a statement. “Our objective is to restore safety, improve environmental conditions and enhance the overall quality of life for residents of Marble Hall.”
While emotions were high, the municipality commended the majority of occupants for complying with the directive and leaving the area voluntarily.
The clean-up marks a significant step in the municipality’s efforts to enforce land-use regulations and address illegal settlements, while officials indicated that broader interventions to manage informal housing challenges in the area are ongoing.
