City threaten to evict Lyndhurst’s motor mechanic from own land
LYNDHURST – The owner was allegedly served with an eviction order but refuses to be moved.
An apparent illegal motor mechanic workshop in Lyndhurst still operates, even though an eviction order over was served more than a year ago.
Ward 81 councillor Irene Rugheimer, however, said they are still pursuing the matter and action will be taken against the owner again soon.
North Eastern Tribune has learned that the court order was delivered by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo on 5 May last year but the workshop still remains open.
The land, on the corner of Pretoria Street and Drome Road, belongs to the City of Johannesburg and the order was served by its entity City Parks as the custodians of the land.
City Parks’ spokesperson, Jenny Moodley, confirmed to Tribune last year that they had served court papers on the owner of the workshop. She claimed, however, that he refused to move.
It is apparent that the owner pays rent to another person but he could not tell City Parks who he is paying it to.
Moodley said City Parks has referred the matter to their legal department to look into and advise on further action to be taken.
When contacted on 6 June, Rugheimer said the matter is still at hand and they will be serving another eviction order soon.
“City Parks did serve the first eviction order on the workshop owner last year and even closed down the place and put up a steel gate and a lock but the owner allegedly broke them to gain entry without permission.”
When asked why no charges were laid as that was a violation of a court order, Rugheimer said, “City Parks was supposed to have done that.”
When Tribune visited the site on 6 June, the workshop was still operational. No one from the workshop wanted to comment on the matter.
Tribune has sent an email and even telephonically contacted Moodley as well as Noeleen Mattera of City Parks several times, but they could not comment as they were in a conference. More information will be published as it becomes available.
Details: Irene Rugheimer 072 409 6594.
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