Wanana had also been a key member of the community of "Azania" in Kayamandi. The group had previously moved from backyard shacks in the area to a vacant plot called Watergang, which they thought belonged to the Stellenbosch municipality.
Following an application for an interdict to remove them, the municipality eventually bought the land from the owner, Stefan Smit, for R45 710 000.
Smit himself was gunned down two months ago in June on his farm by masked men, News24 reported.