DPWI evicts occupants of state-owned properties in Boksburg

Dozens of families occupying the government-owned houses on 14th and 15th told the Advertiser that they have been issued with a summons to vacate.
The eviction notices were reportedly issued on March 6 by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), and residents are expected to pack and leave the buildings by April 6.

Residents said apart from the approximately 36 residential properties, these evictions also include buildings used for businesses in the area, such as shops, scrapyards and workshops.

DPWI spokesperson Thamsanqa Mchunu has not yet responded to our list of questions about the evictions and the future of the properties.

However, according to one of the affected residents, Len Engelbrecht, his family and many residents who have lived in the area for decades are being evicted because the DPWI intends to construct a new public road, which is expected to run across Boksburg North through the area.

Up in arms
Nevertheless, the residents are up in arms over the evictions from homes they claim they’ve occupied for decades.
Residents held a public meeting on March 14 to discuss a way forward.
The meeting was chaired by ward committee member Josias Makgahlela, who serves on the economic development and city planning committee. He vowed to help residents find solutions to the problems they are faced with.

And during the meeting, they all resolved that the Ekurhuleni municipality must be approached by elected community leaders to request that the council intervenes in the problem, which is likely to see hundreds of people kicked out of their homes.

“We are going to approach the regional office of the City’s Human Settlements Department to ask them what they are going to do with the people staying here.
“We will also demand to know who are the people who have been collecting money from the residents using electricity-supply threats to blackmail residents into paying them money,” said Makgahlela.

Engelbrecht pointed out that he has been staying in the area since 2017, but some of his relatives, who also have lease agreements, moved into these houses with their parents as early as 1955.
“Where can you find an alternative place for all of us within 30 days? Even if they forcefully evict us as the rent-paying tenants, people will still come back and illegally occupy the empty buildings.
“This is the same thing that happened after the 2017 evictions,” he said.

Another affected resident, Gert Swanepoel, said they don’t know who to approach for help because for the past couple of years they have been swindled out of thousands of rands by people claiming to have the authority to manage the property.

“I have been staying at 69 on 15th Avenue for over 46 years since I was in Standard Six. We have been paying for water and lights, and now we are facing evictions. Where must we go since we don’t have jobs?
“The story about the road construction has been going on for over 20 years and nothing has happened. Instead, people who are paying get evicted and then others take advantage of the unoccupied buildings and invade them.
“There are many people who live here, where must they go? We don’t know who to go to, who to ask, we don’t know anymore.”

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According to Swanepoel, he and other families have lease agreements and are paying R2 700 rent every month, and they can’t afford to pay what other places are asking for a house-to-let.
“We are not working and our children are not working. Where must we go when we don’t even have the means to pay for the exorbitant rent other places charge? They must first find us alternative accommodation,” added Maria Matshidiso of 14th Avenue.

Evictions led to criminality
This will not be the first eviction to take place in the area.
A few years ago, scores of families were evicted from the houses on 14th Avenue and 15 Avenue. And security personnel were deployed to guard the state properties and to prevent any further incidents of illegality.
However, based on information received from residents, the security company abandoned the site and scores of people illegally occupied the empty buildings.

During the meeting on March 14, residents said since the previous evictions, they have observed an increase in the number of incidents of lawlessness in certain houses.

Also Read: Thousands of Angelo residents protest against looming evictions

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