The beautiful coastal town of Hermanus in the Western Cape, South Africa, has been hit by illegal land invasions, property destruction and xenophobic attacks, which started yesterday and are currently ongoing in Zwelihle and the industrial area of the town. See photos and videos below.

So far there has been destruction at a public library, police station and cars and buses have been torched. The illegal land invasion is allegedly led by EFF members.

A local resident told SAPeople: “I am in Hermanus and it is happening a few metres from my house. There are land grabbers and people’s lives are being threatened.

“All Zimbabweans and foreigners are being evicted as they are being threatened.

“Schools have been closed for the term due to the threats made to invade our schools.”

Whilst talking to SAPeople at around 17h20, the resident reported that a police helicopter arrived.

She said: “You have no idea how bad it is… luckily my family is safe; and the police are trying their utmost!”

So far more than 25 people have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Hermanus, in connection with land invasion, public unrest, and other illegal activities.

Some of the suspects appeared before the Hermanus Magistrates Court this morning on charges of public violence and possession of dangerous weapons. Bail was opposed, according to the Democratic Alliance (DA).

DA Constituency Head of Overstrand, Masizole Mnqasela, said: “I call on the SAPS to act in full force against those who occupy land illegally, perpetrate violence, and damage to property.

“I condemn the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals as a result of the ongoing protests and call on SAPS to ensure the safety of all residents and property in the area.”

He said the DA Western Cape condemns “the EFF land invasions”, and that the DA remains committed to solving service delivery disputes in a “practical and sustainable manner”.

Mnqasela said: “It is highly unfortunate that public property which delivers essential services to this community, such as the public library and busses, and police station were vandalised and damaged. As residents of the Western Cape and Hermanus in particular, it is our collective responsibility to protect and nurture our public property as they render important services to our people. We cannot allow illegal protests to rob our residents of services where we govern.”

He criticised the ANC/EFF land reform model which he says makes the poor even poorer by making them tenants on land owned by the state.

All the photos and videos on this page were supplied to SAPeople by a Hermanus resident and member of a local Whatsapp Community group – “happening in Hermanus right now”, she said.

Watch Hermanus Illegal Land Invasions – videos