ILLEGAL squatters on Windhoek municipal property will remain safe from evictions for another month, after the High Court on Friday extended its suspension of the Squatters Proclamation of 1985.

A 400-strong group from the Havana 6 settlement were granted an interim interdict in July suspending the old law, with the case returning to the court roll on Friday.

The illegal occupants hope to have the law scrapped permanently, but were told last week that all four respondents cited in their case have decided to oppose. The respondents are the City of Windhoek, the Windhoek City Police, the Attorney General's office and the Government.

The case returns to court on October 14. The Havana residents are represented by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC).

A visit to the city's shantytowns last week found only a handful of new squatters, although many of the shacks torn down since the start of the year have been rebuilt by the original occupants.