Suspects charged for violent invasion of Bothlabela flats

ALEXANDRA - Suspects charged with trespassing, violent invasion of Bothlabela Flats.

September 21, 2016

Leseho Manala 2 minutes read

Damaged door of a unit at Bothlabela Phase 2 Flats.

Seven men were each granted R500 bail by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for alleged trespassing and public violence, which resulted in the damage of Bothlabela Phase 2 Flats in Eastbank on 9 September.

The flats – many of which have been unoccupied since completion more than two years ago – have been reported by this paper as scenes of running battles between the Metro and South African Police Services with invading residents who claimed a right to occupancy after being on the Reconstruction and Development Programme’s housing waiting list for many years.

The invasions leave behind a trail of costly damage to the council property and risk the lives of security guards. The flats have been constructed under the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme for prospective homeowners with a monthly income of R3 500 to R15 000.

Alex police spokesperson, Captain Allie Kodisang said the seven arrested from the latest group of invaders acted violently and threatened the guards before breaking into the units. The guards managed to summon help from the police, who arrested them while the remainder were evicted.

Witnesses who requested to remain anonymous, said the group arrived late in the afternoon on the day, forcibly removed the entrance gate, took the keys from the guards and allocated themselves units. They occupied the units overnight until the following day when police reinforcement and City authorities produced a court order and evicted them.

However, hours later, some of the evictees allegedly returned and set fire to some units, causing extensive damage; while others removed but failed to take away bathtubs, sinks and other kitchen and bathroom fittings. The damage included burnt carpets, broken windows, doors, locks and plumbing, theft of circuit breakers and spoiled walls, which will require repainting.

Others allegedly fired shots and forced the guards to lie down, saying they weren’t against them, they were against the authorities for denying them access to housing they claimed belonged to them.

When the police arrested the seven, the others with them ran away, vowing that they would return.

Ward 105 councillor Teffo Raphadu, denounced the invasion as a criminal act. “Genuine house seekers can’t vandalise the same houses they seek to occupy,” Raphadu said.

He denied allegations that the invasion was stoked by the ANC Youth League after some invaders were seen wearing the party’s T-shirts which, he said, were distributed during the local government elections campaign.

“They were a mix of people, most with the opportunistic intention to vandalise and steal,” said Raphadu. This he said in reference to the items which had been gathered but abandoned when the police dispersed the invaders. Raphadu said the damage will set back the scheduled allocation of the units and was a costly exercise which the government now has to repair.