Surprise eviction leaves family stranded

EDEN PARK – Joseph Taylor (56) and his mentally sick wife of 53 Strubaker Street went to bed peacefully on Wednesday March 12, not knowing that the following day would be filled with surprise and drama.

The local police arrived on Thursday morning with an alleged new owner of the house to evict the Taylor family. While furniture was carried out, residents of the same street and neighbours got into a verbal conflict with the police and the alleged new owner. A very volatile situation erupted in the street.

“I have been in this house since 1997 and I bought it with a bond which was paid-up and settled in 2007. In 2009 I received a bill from the metro council for water and lights. Both meters were confirmed by the council technicians as non-functional and then suddenly, this unknown man comes here claiming that he bought my house at an auction in 2009.

“When I consulted the bank, they referred me to the Ekurhuleni Metro Council. Since then, I have been in and out of the court until November 2013 and now the sudden eviction without a court eviction order,” Taylor said.

It has been alleged by Mr Lottering, who has been assisting the family from the beginning of the saga, that the matter will be solved in court because there are just too many questions concerning the unlawful eviction.

The RECORD could not obtain comments from the alleged new owner because he drove off and left the scene.

Mr Lottering informed the RECORD that a case of intimidation has been opened against him by the new owner of the Taylor’s house.