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EFF candidate says Tshwane is losing the fight on informal settlements

Published

Omphile Maotwe, the EFF mayoral candidate for Tshwane, spoke at a 702 mayoral debate on Thursday. She urged residents of informal settlements to occupy unoccupied land. The number of settlements rose from 220 in 2020 to 502 this year.

Maotwe said the city is fighting a losing battle against the growing number of informal settlements. The EFF also claims the City of Tshwane is failing to curb their rapid growth across the metro.

The metro previously said it would need R28 billion to eradicate informal settlements.

Maotwe said residents should take up land that no one occupies. In her words: "our people are reduced to being sardines; cramped in squatter camps as if they’re pigs, our people must go and occupy that land."

Key facts

Who
Omphile Maotwe (EFF mayoral candidate for Tshwane); Economic Freedom Fighters (political party); City of Tshwane (metro municipality)
When
22 October 2026
Where
Tshwane, Mamelodi, Bronkhorstspruit
Status
Reported

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