Civil society organizations affiliated with the Solidarity Space coalition marched to Parliament last month to handover a petition calling for the withdrawal of the proposed Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation Amendment Bill.
Organisations opposing the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Act have rejected the government's decision to extend the public comment period, insisting the Bill should instead be withdrawn entirely.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has extended the deadline for public submissions on the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Amendment Bill by one month, from July 6 to August 6, 2026.
The proposed legislation, gazetted in April, has sparked widespread opposition over provisions that would introduce tougher penalties, including fines of up to R2 million and prison terms of up to two years, for allegedly inciting land invasions and unlawful occupation of property.
Announcing the extension, the Department of Human Settlements said the decision followed requests from organisations and members of the public for more time to comment.
