The South African Government is standing idly by, as armed land invaders are selling stolen plots for as little as R100 in West Acres, Mbombela, says documentary filmmaker, Joe Emilio, host of the YouTube news commentary show ‘News Flash’. According to Emilio, news reports from the last few weeks paint a grim picture of land invaders openly defying a permanent court order and operating in full view of the police, without a single arrest being made.
A concerned local resident reached out to Emilio, asking him to shed light on the Mbombela matter. This comes as Emilio has recently made headlines for his documentary ‘Stolen Ground’ which details the land invasion that happened at the Tygerberg Raceway in Cape Town, as well as his drive to raise support for Stolen Ground 2 and 3, which will unpack the land invasions that happened in Grabouw and Hermanus.
Upon looking into the Mbombela, it became obvious that it is largely being ignored by mainstream media and the government at large, despite its serious implications for security, the rule of law, and of course, property rights.
In the latest episode of ‘News Flash’ entitled Armed Land Grab in Mbombela — Police Watch as Plots Are Sold, which received 8500 views within few hours of airing, Emilio unpacks how invaders in Mbombela, some carrying firearms, have gone so far as to bring in heavy machinery to build roads and mark out stands, while South African Police Service (SAPS) officers repeatedly retreat.
“We have photos, timelines, and receipts. What we don’t have is enforcement,” says Emilio. “This is the anatomy of a land grab, and it’s unfolding in real time while police literally walk away.”
Despite the owner of the land having a permanent court order dated August 2021 prohibiting unlawful occupation of the land, the invasions have intensified in 2025. Emilio details a disturbing sequence of events:
- June 2025 – Mbombela land invaders take to illegally selling stands for as little as R100.00.
- 30 June – SAPS and the sheriff attempt to enforce the order but retreat after facing an aggressive crowd.
- 3 July – Sheriff returns but land invaders display weapons and make threats; SAPS withdraws again.
- 9 July – Gunshots reported near residents’ homes; 10111 called, no response.
- 18 July – Landowner hires bulldozers to dig trenches under police protection. Invaders retaliate with petrol threats. Still no arrests.
- August – SAPS POP unavailable due to strike; when they return, they retreat within two hours after “resistance.”
Residents allege that most of the invaders are foreign nationals, yet no IDs, passports, or firearms have been checked. Municipal officials have failed to coordinate demolitions. Political leaders raised the matter in Parliament, but the Department of Human Settlements has taken no action.
“This isn’t about a lack of land or apartheid. It’s about a system that refuses to enforce the law, even with a court order in hand,” says Emilio. “And when criminals know the police will simply turn and walk away, why wouldn’t they keep coming back?”
The unfolding land invasion, happening right next to Mbombela Stadium, along with the Tygerberg Raceway, Grabouw and Hermanus land grabs, unveil a wider national pattern, “the PIE Act, weak law enforcement, political cowardice create a green light for land invasions,” says Emilio.
He adds that the emergence of an underground economy where land is illegally “sold” to desperate residents. The plots that started at R100 are now selling for R6,000 each.
As Emilio warns: “What’s happening in Mbombela could happen on your doorstep. South Africans are losing faith in the system because the system has chosen not to act.”
Emilio has expressed that he will continue to monitor developments at Mbombela, calling on the state to act. Amid this context of illegal land occupation, the production of the second and third installments of Stolen Ground is in the planning phase thanks to public donations.
“Every contribution is not just funding a documentary. It’s helping us shine a light on lawlessness, failed governance, and the slow death of property rights in South Africa,” he concludes.
See images of Joe Emilio and collateral from Stolen Ground here.
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About Joe Emilio
Joe Emilio is a South African comedian, content creator, and political commentator known for blending sharp wit with serious substance. With a background in stand-up and a passion for speaking truth to power, Joe uses his platform to dissect the country’s most pressing issues, always with a touch of humour and heart. He’s the creator of Newsflash, a satirical news show that unpacks South Africa’s chaos with clarity and comedy.
About Newsflash
Newsflash is a bold, independent YouTube show hosted by Joe Emilio, where politics meets punchlines. From government blunders to media hypocrisy, Newsflash delivers hard-hitting commentary, satire, and deep dives that expose what’s really going on in South Africa, without the fluff. The channel recently won first place in the Media category at the FreeSA Young Leaders Awards 2025, a testament to its fearless storytelling and growing impact.
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