For decades, Tygerberg Raceway was a cornerstone of Cape Town’s grassroots motorsport scene, a vibrant community hub where families gathered, and dreams of speed and competition thrived. But in July 2020, this cherished racetrack in Kraaifontein was obliterated in mere days by a violent land invasion, leaving behind a stark warning about South Africa’s escalating land grab crisis.
The documentary Stolen Ground: The Tygerberg Raceway Story by NewsFlash with Joe Emilio delves into this devastating event, uncovering a web of legal failures, political inaction, and organized land grabs that threaten property rights in South Africa.
The documentary centers on Chris Liebenberg, the former owner of Tygerberg Raceway, who poured his life’s work and an estimated $3.33 million (R60 million) into transforming open farmland into South Africa’s premier oval track racing facility since 1994.
Liebenberg recounts the chaotic invasion, describing how 1,500 to 2,000 land invaders stormed the property, leveling structures, burning equipment, and erecting shacks.
Despite his efforts to protect the raceway, including spending 200,000 rand on private security, he was overwhelmed. “It was terrifying,” Liebenberg says in the documentary, recalling how law enforcement and the South African Police Service (SAPS) were unable to intervene effectively, citing limited resources during the COVID-19 lockdown.
At the heart of the crisis is the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE Act), introduced in 1998 to prevent Apartheid-era forced removals. Intended to protect vulnerable communities, the PIE Act has been criticized for enabling land invasions by imposing costly and time-consuming eviction processes on property owners.
Legal expert Mark Oppenheimer explains that the act prohibits evictions without a court order and requires landowners to provide alternative accommodation for occupiers, even those who illegally seize property. “It erodes property rights,” Oppenheimer notes, highlighting how the law’s procedural constraints leave owners like Liebenberg defenseless.
The documentary reveals a more sinister layer: the rise of “shack farming” syndicates, which orchestrate invasions for profit. An anonymous source, referred to as Daisy, alleges that these groups exploit vulnerable communities, charging up to $833.40 (R15,000) for plots and using violence to maintain control.
JP Smith, Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, describes how invaders strategically place women and children at the forefront to deter law enforcement, while orchestrated attacks, including petrol bombs and live ammunition, targeting city staff.
“The PIE Act creates a paralysis,” Smith says, exacerbated by lockdown regulations and a South African Human Rights Commission interdict that restricted counter-spoliation efforts.
The city’s response has been inadequate. Despite a court order in July 2020 to halt further invasions, limited resources and legal constraints rendered it ineffective. The city denies allegations of complicity, stating it is unaware of any syndicate involvement and encourages residents to report claims for investigation.
However, Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson Luyolo Mphithi points to a broader issue: a “construction mafia” infiltrating municipalities and exploiting housing delays to incite invasions.
Political parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have been accused of encouraging illegal occupations, with Mphithi citing a recent EFF rally urging South Africans to seize unoccupied land.
The loss of Tygerberg Raceway extends beyond Liebenberg’s personal tragedy. Veteran motorsport commentator Gary Fleming emphasizes the economic and cultural toll, noting that the raceway supported local businesses and nurtured young talent who went on to compete nationally.
“It was a family-oriented space,” Fleming says, lamenting the loss of a facility that drew thousands and fueled a multi-million-rand industry. The ripple effects are felt across Cape Town, where motorsport enthusiasts now travel to distant tracks, draining local economies.
Proposed solutions offer a glimmer of hope. The DA has introduced amendments to the PIE Act, presented on May 28, 2025, aiming to criminalize incitement of land invasions and expand eviction criteria.
The Referendum Party, led by Robert King, advocates for provincial reforms in the Western Cape, redefining what constitutes a “home” to exclude unauthorized structures and expedite evictions in high-risk areas.
However, with the recent passage of the Expropriation Act, which allows land seizures for vague “public interest” reasons, fears of further erosion of property rights loom large.
Five years after the invasion, no resolution has been reached for Tygerberg Raceway. The city’s informal settlements department is exploring relocation or upgrading options, but no concrete plans exist.
Stolen Ground warns that the crisis is far from isolated, with land invasions surging across South Africa. “If this can happen to Chris, what makes you think it won’t happen to you?” Emilio asks, stressing the urgency for reform.
The documentary is a call to action, exposing a broken system where laws meant to protect have been weaponized against property owners.
As Liebenberg’s loss echoes nationwide, the question remains: will South Africa’s leaders act before more communities are reduced to rubble?
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