22/09/2026
This is a genuinely live debate in South Africa, and it's worth separating the legal answer from the lived-experience answer, because they diverge.
Legally, unlawful occupiers don't have more rights than property owners - the Constitution protects both, and this judgment shows a landlord winning back their property. But it took over a decade, two rounds of litigation, and a landlord who got their process wrong the first time.
Curious where you land on this one. Drop your thoughts below.👇🏾
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court has ordered a Newlands East family to vacate their rental property by October 15, 2026, after upholding the cancellation of their lease. The sheriff may enforce the eviction from 20 October if they remain.