Land occupiers in Tembisa, East of Johannesburg, scored a big court victory on Monday. Judge Anthony Milla in the North Gauteng High Court ordered the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and the City of Ekurhuleni to stop evicting the occupiers without a court order. They also have to pay each occupier R1,500 for damages to property during prior evictions.
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) represented the occupiers. Thandeka Chauke, a lawyer for LHR, said: "First and foremost [the order] declares that the evictions were indeed unconstitutional and unlawful ... [The court] has granted interdicts that will prevent EMPD and the City from harassing, intimidating or threatening the occupiers."
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