People must learn that South Africa is governed by the rule of law, which must be followed and respected.

I am happy that the case has been brought to finality and welcome Judge Joseph Raulinga's verdict. According to the court, the illegal occupants on the farm must voluntarily vacate the farm within 15 days, failing which the sheriff is entitled to remove them.

The Department of Rural Development has in the past warned the 6000 alleged illegal occupiers about the ramifications of their actions.

It is alleged that bogus sellers defrauded unsuspecting and desperate community members to the tune of R4-million, despite public warnings made by the department. It is alleged that people were conned into buying portions of land without any receipts as proof of purchase.

It is unfortunate that unscrupulous people are exploiting desperate poor communities, who stand to lose the hard-earned money they paid to these devious characters when they are evicted from the land they are occupying illegally. The illegal selling of state land and the occupation of state land is a criminal offence.