Pretoria - The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has warned people against acquiring or occupying land illegally, saying it would not refund anyone who had acquired land illegally.
This comes after a group of people were sold land at the Wallmanthsdal Farm illegally.
The department reiterated its stance and said it was committed to restoring and settling all outstanding restitution claims.
"Our mandate of restitution is to have the rightful land claimants occupying the land with full proof of documentation including the title deed," the department said, adding that the process will be done in accordance with the Constitution of the country.
The land restitution programme, which is implemented in line with the Restitution of Land Rights Act (Act 22 of 1994), is a key initiative which contributes towards reconciliation and nation building.
"As the department we will continue to align ourselves with both the restitution Act and the Constitution in executing our land reform mandate."
The department said it has been involved in a legal battle with people who were defrauding unsuspecting and desperate community members to the tune of R4 million by selling land illegally to them.
Community members were conned into buying portions of land without any receipts as proof of their purchase.
According to the department, these people have been occupying Wallmanthsdal Farm, about 50km outside Pretoria.
In February this year, the North Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) granted an eviction order for the illegal occupants of Wallmanthsdal farm.
According to the High court ruling, all the illegal occupants on the farm were supposed to voluntarily vacate the farm within 15 days from the date of the ruling (2 February 2012) failing which the Sheriff and SAPS were instructed to remove them, but these people did not heed the instruction of the court to vacate the land.
Subsequent to that, on 4 April 2012, the same court struck from the roll the illegal squatter's leave to appeal their eviction following a no-show by the squatters.
Earlier this month, the sheriff placed a notice on the farm calling upon the squatters to vacate the farm but they did not abide by the instruction.
The Sheriff is currently executing the court order by evicting illegal occupants of Wallmanthsdal farm.
