Land seized, Rights evaded: The PIE Act on Trial

The lowdown

• The PIE Act is being used to entrench land invasions, not prevent them.
• Stolen Ground exposes how Tygerberg Raceway was unlawfully occupied.
• 60k+ viewers in 24 hours reveals growing public concern over land grabs.

The Story Behind Stolen Ground: The Tygerberg Raceway Story

South Africa’s fragile property rights are under siege, quietly and legally. In his explosive debut documentary Stolen Ground: The Tygerberg Raceway Story, comedian-turned-commentator Joe Emilio investigates one of Cape Town’s most disturbing land invasions and the systemic failures that enabled it.

The film, which garnered over 60,000 views within a day of release, digs into the unlawful takeover of private land, the silence of law enforcement, and the sinister misuse of legislation like the PIE Act.

What begins as a story about the unlawful occupation of the Tygerberg Raceway quickly unravels into a broader exposé of how land is being seized across the country under the radar with little to no government intervention and zero accountability.

How the Tygerberg Raceway Was Lost

The Tygerberg Raceway, once a thriving motorsport venue owned by entrepreneur Chris Liebenberg, became ground zero for a well-orchestrated land invasion during the COVID-19 lockdown. Within a week, a mob of up to 2,000 people descended on the land, razing infrastructure and erecting makeshift dwellings.

According to Liebenberg, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and municipal law enforcement stood by, offering no protection. As the occupation unfolded, gunfire echoed across the site and violence flared but no meaningful action was taken.

Liebenberg estimates his financial losses at R60 million. But the real cost, says Emilio, is the dangerous precedent it sets for landowners everywhere.

The PIE Act: A Law Turned Weapon

A key focus of the documentary is the controversial PIE Act, the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act. Originally intended to protect vulnerable individuals from unlawful evictions, the Act has become a shield for land invaders and a trap for property owners.

Legal experts interviewed in the documentary argue that the PIE Act is now being manipulated to delay or outright prevent rightful evictions, giving unlawful occupants time to entrench their positions and claim de facto ownership.

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“The PIE Act was never meant to enable land grabs,” says advocate Mark Oppenheimer in the film. “But that’s what it’s doing in practice.”

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What This Means for Landowners

The Tygerberg Raceway is not an isolated case. Across the country, farms, private developments, and even residential properties are being quietly taken, often under the protection of poorly enforced or deliberately misinterpreted laws.

Joe Emilio puts it plainly:

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“While South Africans feared expropriation without compensation, the real theft had already begun, under the guise of legality, and nobody noticed.”

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For landowners, this means legal ownership is no longer a guarantee of security. A combination of political opportunism, bureaucratic apathy, and community manipulation is undermining one of the most fundamental rights in a constitutional democracy: the right to own and protect private property.

The Way Forward

‍Stolen Ground calls for a national reckoning with the misuse of the PIE Act and the broader policy failures enabling illegal land occupations. Joe Emilio urges civil society, legal advocates, and property owners to demand legislative reform, stronger enforcement, and political accountability.

He also challenges viewers to look beyond the headlines and question official narratives, especially when they contradict reality on the ground.

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“This documentary wasn’t supposed to be political,” Emilio reflects. “But when politicians lie and people suffer, you either stay silent or you speak up. I chose the latter.”

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Watch the Documentary
Stolen Ground: The Tygerberg Raceway Story
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XZaRrhaZM
Official Website: www.StolenGround.co.za

Featured Interviews

• JP Smith – City of Cape Town
• Mark Oppenheimer – Advocate
• Martin van Staden – Free Market Foundation
• Luyolo Mphithi – DA Spokesperson on Human Settlements
• Robert King – Referendum Party
• Chris Liebenberg – Former Raceway Owner
• Residents and eyewitnesses from the occupied site

About Joe Emilio
Joe Emilio is a South African-American comedian, commentator, and creator of the satirical news show Newsflash. With Stolen Ground, he steps into documentary filmmaking with a mission to reveal truths hidden behind red tape and rhetoric.

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