Human Settlements Department to take action on illegal occupant
Human Settlements department acts swiftly to help senior citizens in the South.
One of the old age home residents in Karina Place, South Hills, wants MMC Mlungisi Mabaso to fulfil his promise to make sure the senior citizens live in peace in their place of retirement.
Earlier this year he promised that his department will get rid of illegal tenants and make sure the old age homes are safe.
The said resident mentioned that there’s a senior citizen living with her 42-year-old son in a female-only old age home for over 10 years. She wanted to know when the process of removing illegal occupants from old age homes will start?
In previous engagements with the MMC, he promised that this will be happening. She also wants to find out about the safety of the senior citizens as there is no security where they live.
“To date, no action has been effective. When the local housing manager visits, the tenant in our block hides him (the son) in their rooms or enclosed steps. Our safety and wellbeing are at risk as one bathroom and two toilets cater for six tenants.
“Why must law-abiding rent-paying pensioners be subjected to this? I have heard that people cannot be evicted unless alternative accommodation is provided. Apparently, the tenant with the son was told that she cannot be provided with alternative accommodation because she owes the council more than R50 000.
“I have repeatedly reported my concerns to the housing acting manager and the regional manager without any success,” she said.
Thabile Mbhele from the office of Human Settlements MMC, who is the deputy director in communications and stakeholder management, said they have engaged with the complainant about the matter and will take relevant steps to evict the illegal occupant with immediate effect.
“The Human Settlements Department is in the process of procuring private security for the facility in the coming months,” she said.
