'We will do what we can' (The Star)

By Barry Bateman

A city charity organisation has contingency plans in place to help in the event of next week's widely expected mass eviction of tenants at Schubart Park. Last year the Tshwane Metro Council issued tenants with a May 31 deadline to vacate the building, but has remained mum on what exactly is planned on June 1 if the flats are not vacated.

"If this happens the council will make use of the legal procedures that are available as described in relevant legislation," council spokeswoman Antoinette Mostert said last month. "It is of utmost importance that Schubart Park be vacated as soon as possible. Council is planning to start with the renovations in the next financial year. The notice for the people to move out... stands."

Francois Smit, spokesperson for city charity organisation Pen, said the Kruger Park disaster, in which five people died and thousands were displaced, caught them unaware. "We were able to organise about 1 500 meals during the first two days of the crisis, house about 100 women and children in our church hall for a week and help with the feeding of people stuck in the Schubart Park hall for a couple of days.

"We also provided bread, blankets and water. "This time round we want to be better prepared even though the sheer numbers that might be involved will be hopelessly too much to handle," he said.

Smit said Pen had set up a team with members focused on specific tasks, like logistics, politics and media, medical assistance, shelter and volunteers. He said it would be ready to house at least 100 women and children on its premises on the corner of Vermeulen and Bosman streets, but had also asked the council's disaster management unit to look into the possibility of using a nearby old building which belongs to the council. "We have also (arranged) with one of the local churches to get involved and provide possible shelter for elderly people," said Smit.

"We will be ready with blankets, water cans, a makeshift clinic with some of our medical staff, but we have no doctors yet, and at least 10 volunteers in orange overalls assisting people if necessary. "The bottom line is, we will do what we can."

Aubrey Ramotlhale, chairman of the Schubart and Kruger Park Residents Committee (SKPRC), said they were standing by their decision not to vacate the flats. "We will wait for the council to act. Their strategy has been not to engage with us," he said. Ramotlhale said the committee was organising a march to the Ramokgopa's office on Monday to present residents' grievances.

Smit said the council had not implemented any pre-eviction measures and its strategy on this matter was as "transparent as the smoked coloured windows of Kruger Park".  He said an eviction would only result in chaos which Tshwane mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa could not imagine in her wildest dreams. "It seems that the council has very little control at Schubart Park and cares even less about the fate of the people."

Louise du Plessis, a Lawyers for Human Rights attorney who is representing the residents, said despite repeated attempts to engage with the council on the matter there has been no response.

Smit said necessities they desperately needed were baby products, especially nappies, Nan 1 and baby cereal, dry foods, bread, emergency medical supplies and blankets. People who would like to assist Pen with donations or volunteer their services can call its offices on 012 323 6688 or visit the website at www.pen.org.za.

This article was originally published on page 4 of The Pretoria News on May 27, 2009