Programme News
27 August 2010
(Press release)
On Monday, 23 August 2010, a contingent of officials from the Khara Hais Municipality accompanied by security guards and members of the SAPS arrived at New Heaven informal settlement in Paballelo, Upington. The municipal officials proceeded to tear down and demolish approximately ten shacks which had been erected and were occupied by desperately poor people including households headed by women,...
12 August 2010
(News)
The squatters' shacks were burnt down by the Tshwane Metro Police on July 21. With the assistance of Lawyers for Human Rights, the squatters took the council to court.
Acting Pretoria high court judge Jody Kollapen ordered the municipality to erect temporary shelter for the squatters. Judge Kollapen ruled against the municipality's plan to move the squatters to a site in Struben Street, near...
12 August 2010
(News)
The cemetery land also serves as a football ground for the squatters. A slimy nearby pond, which oozes green fungi sludge is used by the squatters as a laundry.
"Our biggest fear is the rainy season because the tents will be flooded," Michael Furanji said as he washed his clothes in the pond.
The camp is littered with the burnt-out remains of what used to be the squatters'...
24 July 2010
(News)
Pretoria - Moving a group of illegal Moreleta Park squatters to the other side of Pretoria would amount to an illegal eviction, Acting Judge Jody Kollapen told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday.
Kollapen refused to allow the Tshwane municipality to temporarily move the group of over 300 squatters to a building in Strueben Street in the West of Pretoria.
He gave the municipality...
22 July 2010
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights (“LHR”) will be approaching the High Court today at 14h00 on an urgent basis to seek an order requiring the Tshwane Municipality to immediately supply temporary shelter for the victims of an unlawful and inhumane eviction which took place yesterday, 21 July 2010.
On 21 July 2010 the Tshwane Municipality destroyed 80 shacks in Pretoria East next to the...
6 May 2010
(Press release)
The municipal bylaws which have been promulgated specifically for the soccer world cup in host cities come into operation on 7 May 2010 and will remain in effect until 15 August 2010. Lawyers for Human Rights (“LHR”) has been monitoring the implementation of these bylaws and remains concerned about the potential for abuse of these bylaws by municipal officials and, in particular...
1 March 2010
(Press release)
In the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Rabie J today endorsed the eviction of approximately 300–400 individuals occupying Portion 25 of the farm of Mooiplaats, Itireleng. The court ordered that the abovementioned property, owned by Golden Thread Limited, be vacated by 29 March 2010.
The court highlighted among other factors: the violation of Golden Thread’s property...
15 February 2010
(News)
NINE-year-old Pule Mahese and his family have been sleeping under the stars in Bremmer Street, Claremont, for the past two weeks since their shack was demolished by a service provider of the Tshwane Metro Council, but they may soon have a roof over their head again. In spite of sleeping out in the open, little Pule has not missed a single day of school at Tuinerand Primary, which he...
8 February 2010
(News)
DESPONDENT parents will turn to the Pretoria High Court in a bid to force the Limpopo MEC for education to reopen a farm school which was forced to close its doors after 47 years. The parents are all farm workers and parents of children who, up until the end of last year, attended the Seribane Primary School on the farm Marakeli in Limpopo. The farm belongs to South African National Parks....
1 December 2009
(Press release)
The residents of the Mamelodi hostel won a victory in the North Gauteng High Court today where the court confirmed the interim order issued on 18 November 2009 and found that the attempted demolition and the removal of the roof from the Mamelodi Hostel unlawful and ordered the Tshwane municipality to resurrect the roof.
On 15 and 16 November 2009, the municipality began to demolish...