The Buffalo City Municipality says it will file an urgent Court Application to curtail illegal land invasions along the R72, Buffalo Pass, just outside Cove Rock.
The land grabbing started on Monday this week when several people illegally earmarked government and private property.
Municipal spokesperson, Samkelo Ngwenya, said land invasions stand in the way of ensuring that national government is able to expand the East London airport in order to grow the city's economy and attract investment.
Ngwenya said once the court interdict is granted it will allow law enforcement agencies including SAPS to act decisively.
"We strongly condemn them and we would like to send a strong warning to those who have undertaken this illegal act that they have taken a very bad gamble. Right now we are failing an urgent court application, we are moving to get court interdict and a demolishing order. so we are able to act decisively on the matter," he said.
Ngwenya said any rumours that the occupation of the land around the airport has been sanctioned by the government is totally untrue.
"Council is awaiting recommendations of the national task team that was set up to come with solutions on the issue, and serious action will be taken thereafter," he added.
East London police spokesperson, Hazel Mqala, confirmed that police members are on the scene.
Meanwhile, eyewitness and resident, Esther Wallace, told Algoa FM News that about 40 cars vehicles were parked along the route on Friday morning.
"At the present moment we are only looking at 40 vehicles, maybe 70 people plus. On Thursday we were probably looking at about 450 and close to a 1000 people," she said.
Ngwenya told Algoa Fm that they expect the court application to take about an hour.
