Councillor Teffo Raphadu of Ward 105 told residents complaining about the destruction of their housing structures to seek relief wherever they wished.
Raphadu was responding to complaints by victims whose housing structures, which are located behind Kwa-bhekilanga Secondary School in Ext 8, were destroyed on 9 September, allegedly with his involvement. The victims, one of who is contemplating a court case against the councillor, claimed Raphadu instructed the demolishers, said to be members of eviction group Dudula, to destroy the structures under construction and to take whatever they wanted. In the process, the victims apparently lost some of their household items, allegedly stolen by the demolishers.
“They can go report to whoever,” Raphadu said, attributing the action taken due to complaints by other residents who he said were fed up with the illegal construction of the housing structures. “The community feels neglected by the City and its entities and are saying enough is enough with illegal invasions of land compounded by illegal electricity connections in illegal buildings constructed on sewer mains causing blockages which the City is failing to unblock,” Raphadu added that the residents had taken action after the City, Metro police and City Parks had failed to uphold its by-laws. He said the structures were built in a park on land belonging to Kwa-bhekilanga Sports Complex. He dismissed claims that he had discriminated against people from Limpopo saying it was nonsensical as he also was from the same province.
Also, he rubbished claims of him soliciting bribes and urged residents to instead comply with the City’s by-laws to avoid wasting their money on illegal structures that may be demolished.
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