Members of Dudula, a group involved in the evictions of ‘illegal’ occupants of RDP houses in Alexandra dismissed claims that they were acting as vigilantes.
The claim is from residents of Ext 7 who are preparing protests over last weekend’s eviction of two families by the group who alleged they had no right to occupancy while the houses’ rightful owners are said by the group to be languishing in transit camps and shacks for many years.
“The ineptness of government, corrupt allocations of the houses for financial gain by some officials and the beneficiaries’ illegal status in the country prompt us to act this way. “Some of us and our parents on the housing waiting list have no homes while promised RDP houses are allocated to others,” said Liefie Madigane who decried the death of his grandmother before she could occupy her long-awaited house.
Madigane said the group is a movement of community members and worked through committees per ward. “We assess occupants’ documents to prove their legal standing in the country before we act on them.” This he said includes evicting citizens in RDP houses elsewhere and those who do not fit the allocation criteria.
Madigane dismissed allegations of their high-handedness and theft from the victims. “We approach those we target with relevant information about the house’s rightful owner and where requested, give the illegal occupants notice to seek alternative accommodation pending the eviction. “We don’t break doors, are not armed and sometimes ask neighbours to keep the evictees’ property while they seek alternative places.”
He said all assets removed are recorded in anticipation of likely contestation. Madigane said as, in most group activities, there could be ill-discipline. “We advise witnesses of such conduct to inform us so that we can investigate and take corrective action.” He urged those targeted to avoid their own misery by keeping proper and legitimate proof of their legal status for comparison with the group’s information. “They should also be willing to be subjected to verification by appropriate authorities.”
He said many of them disappear when asked to present themselves fearing exposure of their status. “We resist attempted bribes by many as that could defeat the cause for which we were formed.” He added that ‘illegal’ occupants with spouses who are citizens are spared if the ownership of the house is changed to that of the citizen. “We are not thugs,” he said about the evictions, pending the long-awaited results of investigations by the Joburg City Council, the provincial government and jointly by the Public Protector and Human Rights Commission of corruption and human rights abuse surrounding the saga.
Madigane also claimed that disgruntled evictees feared reporting to the police to avoid exposure that could lead to the loss of social security benefits and freezing of their bank accounts. His colleague Sibusiso Kona advised those affected to regularise their status or rent homes. “RDP houses are only meant for citizens.”
He said the residents have asked them to form street committees to enable the two to work together. He scoffed at those turning to the police and the courts for recourse saying it was futile as they too will want proof of rightful occupation and citizenship. This said as some groups of people are in and out of court for their reported evictions.
Related article:
