Rofhiwa Marubini 
Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA, Lebogang Maile has assured Gauteng residents that there will be no evictions that will be carried out for the duration of the national lockdown.
Maile was speaking at a media briefing in Ormonde, Johannesburg on Tuesday 21 April, following a notable increase in illegal land invasions in Gauteng after the commencement of the lockdown.
Maile's visit to Lawley, south of Johannesburg on Sunday 19 April, where shacks that were illegally built on government land were demolished, was cut short as a crowd of people started gathering.
"We did not want to meet with the community, as the lockdown regulations prohibits gatherings, we therefore only invited the media. But when we got there on Sunday we were told that there is thousands of people who were waiting to be addressed by us" said Maile. 
During the media briefing, Maile reiterated that only shacks that were illegally erected during the lockdown were demolished.  
"People who illegally invade land must be acted upon. We only demolished shacks that were empty and new, some of those that were demolished were only a few days old," added Maile. 
MEC for Infrastructure Development and Property Management, Tasneem Motara who was also at the briefing said, land invaders usually occupy land that is not suitable for human settlements. 
"In many instances when a land is invaded illegally, the evaders occupy land that is either on a wet land or flood line which becomes a bigger problem. The invasion of land puts strain on us as government as after invading land, the illegal occupants require services which they acquire illegally at the expense of the municipality and law-abiding citizens", said Motara. ​