Court clears pensioner of trespassing, orders return to La Rochelle home

The trespassing case involving Mandla Ndlamlenze was heard for the final time at the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on October 9.

Magistrate Habib made sure the trial concluded as the trial had been ongoing since 2023.

Ndlamlenze was forcefully removed from his living quarters in Building 58 on Forest Street in La Rochelle a year ago.

He was then charged for trespassing by Maimate Gumbi, who according to the defence wanted to take over the property illegally.

The group that removed the pensioner did not include the real owner of the property.
Gumbi was not present in court.

The defence’s case was that the removal of Ndlamlenze from the premises was so that a different group of individuals could take over the property illegally and rent it out for their benefit. It was argued that Ndlamlenze had been working and living on the premises for more than 20 years and therefore could not be trespassing on the property.

“I had worked in this building for many years until the building was left abandoned by my employers due to financial problems. The agreement between me and the previous owners was that I could become a type of caretaker for the property. I have fulfilled this role for almost 15 years.”

After a lengthy deliberation between the defence and prosecution, an agreement was reached to withdraw the charges against Ndlamlenze.

Habib also ordered that he be allowed to resume living in Building 58.