Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) on Monday justified its actions to enforce a court order to evict illegal occupants from company-owned land, near the its Mooiplaats dolomite mine, close to Pretoria.

Contractors demolished shacks on Monday morning after PPC enforced the court order.

PPC said in a statement that an illegal expansion of the Itireleng settlement started in July and that, by October, some 170 shacks had been erected on PPC property.

The cement producer stated that in addition to the invasion of its property, it was also concerned about the safety of the community involved.

“Mooiplaas is a sizable operation using large mining equipment and explosives. The ground that has been occupied is dolomitic, prone to sink holes and therefore not safe for human settlement. Approximately 400 heavy vehicles make daily use of an access road on which the settlement is now encroaching, making it especially dangerous for children,” it said in a statement.

PPC has held numerous meetings with community and municipal representatives in an attempt to resolve this issue but said that none had been successful, as shacks on its property had steadily increased.

By mid-October, the Sherriff, under instruction of the court, served the land invaders with an initial eviction order. The order gave illegal occupants the opportunity to voluntarily vacate PPC property.

However, PPC noted that to date, the illegal occupants have chosen not to comply with the order and in protest of PPC’s actions, have resorted to stoning vehicles and blocking access road leading to the mine with large rocks.

“PPC has tried all avenues, leniency and consultation with the relevant stakeholders in attempting to resolve this issue amicably but to no avail. Under the circumstances it has no other option than to execute the final eviction order that was issued through the North Gauteng High Court on December 7.”