100 homeless after shacks demolished

The apparently unlawful demolition of shacks in the Road Reserve community in Atteridgeville has left more than 100 people, including women and children, homeless in the middle of winter.

The residents recently told the Pretoria High Court the actions of City of Tshwane officials had left them destitute.

“We have nowhere to go, the children are unable to attend school and the winter weather has made our circumstances particularly unbearable,” Magalies Izwelibanzi Makubane, one of the ousted residents, told the court.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) have secured an urgent order on behalf of the residents halting the demolition of the houses.

The matter will return to court on Tuesday, when LHR will ask for an order forcing the municipality to rebuild the demolished homes and return the confiscated building material to the community.

Makubane said in a statement before court he and his son had been living in a structure on a stand he shared with his sister.

She had a separate dwelling.

Early last month his sister received notice that she was going to be moved to an RDP house and the council instructed her to demolish all structures on her land or she could not move.

“When I returned from work, I found my home had been demolished. My possessions had been packed into a corner of the stand and the building material was strewn around the area. At no point was I given any notice to vacate.”

Makubane said at the same time other people in the area were also moved to RDP houses. Those living on the same stand as a relocated household - so-called backyard dwellers - had their homes demolished but were not provided with alternative accommodation.

Makubane said they met the mayoral committee member for housing and human settlements.

“After hearing our story, he told us to rebuild our homes and gave an undertaking that he would ensure the matter would be resolved.”

He re-erected his home at a cost of R6 000 and tried to return to his normal family life.

He said they lived peacefully on the site until the morning of July 9.

“City of Tshwane officials arrived and once again forcefully evicted us and destroyed our possessions.

“We have been treated as people without any dignity,” he said.

Tshwane has not yet responded.

Pretoria News