By JN Reporter

… High Court halts Metro’s land preparation … Mangaung accuses opposition party of blocking people access to land

Tensions surrounding the Lourierpark development have intensified after the Free State High Court issued an order temporarily halting Mangaung Metro’s land preparation activities. The ruling has triggered a political storm, with the municipality accusing an opposition party of deliberately frustrating efforts to provide residents with access to land. The court’s intervention follows an urgent application brought this week by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which alleges “unlawful preparation” of land for occupation in and around Lourierpark. In its order, the court directed the Metro to immediately cease any further land preparation or settlement activities pending the finalisation of the matter. However, in a statement released on Thursday, executive mayoral spokesperson Themba Vryman said the land preparation forms part of the Metro’s efforts to address the city’s growing housing backlog. He accused the DA of obstructing the municipality from developing its own land for the benefit of Mangaung residents. “How long shall we keep our people waiting? The city is currently sitting with more than 77 000 people registered on the NHNR with reference numbers waiting for placement opportunities. It has been more than a year of waiting for land allocation and proper service delivery,” Vryman said. “It is deeply regrettable in our democratic dispensation that, in a constitutional democracy founded on the principles of dignity, equality and redress, a political party has chosen to obstruct a municipality from developing its own land for the benefit of the people of Mangaung.” Vryman further claimed the DA’s court application is “not about governance, but desperation for political control”. The DA has argued that currently prepared land is not serviced and currently has no bulk water supply, electricity, or waterborne sewerage infrastructure and view the planned occupation as unlawful and place both residents and surrounding communities at risk. “In terms of municipal by-laws and planning legislation, land may not be allocated or occupied unless township establishment conditions are met, services are installed, and the required engineering certificates are issued. Any occupation without these processes would be unlawful and place both residents and surrounding communities at risk,” said DA councillor Greg van Noord. The matter has been postponed to 5 March 2026.