The impasse between members of the bonafides movement and the Johannesburg Development Agency over the occupation of Bothlabela Extension 2 Flats has changed.
This after the members were evicted by the sheriff with a court order last week, leaving them in the open around the palisade surrounding the three blocks of flats. The members who claim to have occupied the flats for up to four months said they were evicted by the sheriff with the police under a contested court order. They questioned the order’s validity after alleging they had been given assurance at a meeting by the MMC for housing in the city Bonakele Dan Bovu. They were allegedly told that they should stay while their matter was being looked into. They allege that the MMC promised to revert back to them for further engagement. At the time of this article, their leaders were meeting with the MMC.
The flats have been a contested terrain for many months and has seen many ongoing battles with authorities culminating in the members’ illegal occupation until the forced eviction. They said they occupied the flats from the discontent premised on allegations of the illegal allocation of their reconstruction and development programme [RDP] houses by people not in the waiting list. They said the allocations were done corruptly at a time of huge housing shortage with many of their members located in transit camps for many years.
Those found onsite, who declined to be named in the absence of their leaders, said the evictions will not deter them from their demand to occupy the flats as they have no alternative accommodation. This while the flats remained empty and allegedly for occupation only by people who qualified for them under a home ownership scheme. They said they were prepared to pay for any services required under the RDP scheme when in the flats. “The eviction has left us exposed to bad whether with children and no toilet and water facilities for washing and cooking, and we have to beg from nearby homes. We have children writing matric examinations and others in creches who need places to study and to be bathed before going to school every morning,” they said. They expressed hope that the MMC would revert to his assurance for them to reoccupy the flats pending a long-term solution. The MMC’s office couldn’t be reached at the time of publication. A follow up will be made after their leaders’ meeting with the MMC. Meanwhile, the flats are secured by a private security company.
