Emotional: Dwellers moving out of sold property
The residents were seen by the Northsider on Wednesday, 23 January, as they vacated the premises, with some conveying anger and frustration.
A ticking time bomb has finally exploded for residents of Plot 124, who were served with an eviction notice to leave the premises in December.
The residents were seen by the Northsider on Wednesday, 23 January, vacating the premises, with some of them conveying anger and frustration.
According to Marry-Anne Kearney, the owner of the property adjacent to Magnum Road in Honeydew Ridge, she was forced to sell the property and evict the dwellers after struggling to maintain payment of the rates and taxes on the property, which amount to about R22 000 every month.
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“I’ve been trying to fight the property tax issue without any success. My intention was not to throw these people out but nobody in their right mind can pay R22 000 every month without a job,” she lamented.
The Northsider was provided with the property’s municipal account statement which revealed an outstanding amount that was over R100 000 plus a current amount of R22 742,31 for the month of December.
Among the frustrated dwellers were two elderly residents, a disabled Timothy Matsme, and Russel Maake, who worked for the owner. The duo was left worried about their next move. “I was admitted to hospital in December for depression because I kept thinking about this eviction,” Timothy stressed.
Legally, residents who have occupied the property for a long time are entitled to receive alternative accommodation on eviction, or to be reimbursed by the owner or buyer.
Marry-Anne stated that she had complied with the law by reimbursing the dwellers and also is working on paying out Timothy and Russel whose payment is much higher. “My lawyer is handling the cases of those who have not been compensated. However, others have been given their payouts,” she explained, adding that she even gave away material for them to use at their new homes.
Ditaba Chabalala was happy about the gesture, but he was disgruntled to be destitute. While unscrewing the roof and packing up his belongings, he said he and his family and other occupants had migrated to the camps on Plot 323 in Wilgespruit.
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