Knoflokskraal community pushes back against 'lawless' label during government intervention
The land in question is owned by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and was earmarked by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment for forestry purposes. It was first illegally occupied in 2020 and has since grown to approximately 4 000 structures.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
The Knoflokskraal community has rejected the government's characterisation of the settlement as “lawless”, as plans to restore order at the site near Grabouw gather pace.
On Tuesday, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, was joined by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Western Cape MEC for Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers, and Theewaterskloof Municipality Mayor Lincoln de Bruyn, where they held a briefing on their plans for the settlement in the Elgin Valley.
Macpherson said at present, Knoflokskraal is a space where, in many respects, "the rule of law does not exist".
In a response issued by HRH Dr Elouise Rossouw on behalf of residents, the community said the label was harmful and erased the lived reality of families trying to rebuild their lives.
“Knoflokskraal is not simply an ‘occupation’, it is a space where families, including those identifying as Indigenous and marginalised, are reconnecting with land, identity and cultural belonging,” the statement said.
Occupation of state-owned land, which began in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has expanded from a small initial group into a settlement of about 4 000 structures, housing an estimated 15 000 to 20 000 people.
While acknowledging challenges, the community said it rejects criminality but cautioned against broad claims that stigmatise all residents.
“It is important to distinguish between isolated incidents and the broader community,” the statement said, adding that allegations should not be used to define the entire settlement.
Macpherson said they would implement a structured intervention, warning the settlement has become entrenched and is operating outside lawful governance.
Residents also raised concerns about the planned intervention, warning that an approach focused on containment and enforcement risks escalating tensions and criminalising vulnerable families.
They said meaningful engagement with government has been limited, citing a lack of consultation and failure to pursue mediation processes previously recommended.
The community called for a rights-based approach focused on security of tenure, access to basic services, recognition of Indigenous identity and inclusive development, framing the dispute as not only a land issue but a broader cultural and human rights matter.
The National Coloured Congress (NCC) echoed concerns about the approach, urging a more balanced response.
“This is not opposition to the project, but a call to strengthen it,” the party said, adding that the intervention “should not be viewed as the sole solution” and must be “diversified, environmentally responsible, and resilient”.
The NCC called for a “holistic path forward” that balances enforcement with long-term planning and community engagement, saying this could lead to a “more cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and socially beneficial” outcome.