Protesting Meadowlands residents vow, ‘All hell will break loose if they try to evict us’
Protesters claim that the flats in Fleurhof are unoccupied and that animals have begun moving into the empty flats.
The Meadowlands community said ‘enough is enough’ during a protest over housing which took place in Fleurhof on Monday 28.
Angry protesters barricaded the Odendaal Road with burning tyres and stones.
The demonstration was also attended by members of the Meadowlands Community Forum [MCF] who said no evictions were to take place and that no one would occupy houses except the rightful owners.
One resident said that the project started in 2013 when the initiative was implemented and added that Meadowlands and Florida residents would benefit from the housing project from 1996 until this year. According to the resident, houses were also promised in nearby Bramfischerville as other residents were relocated.
The resident added, “We have been forgotten and stood on the sidelines while other people have been receiving houses. Our councillors have failed us as they said they would allocate housing to 15 people per ward.”
He continued, “Some people occupied the flats and when we ask, they tell us that government has allocated these flats to them.”
“Many of the flats are empty, a few even have animals living in there and the condition of these flats are steadily deteriorating.”
A resident who moved into an unoccupied flat said, “When we moved in, we had to fix the water supply and the electricity.”
“Calgro issued an interdict stating that we should evacuate this place but we are also busy with our lawyers to oppose this eviction.”
Magdeline Mthiba is currently living at Lily since applying for a house in 1996.
She said, ” I don’t have a house here. Today I say we have had enough of these empty promises. I have been to several government departments about the housing issue with no results.”
“I say let the law deal with the corruption that is taking place at the housing department. We are struggling while animals are living in these flats.”
She added that she lived with her children and grandchildren and make do without the basic services like running water and electricity.
The Meadowlands residents who are living at the Fleurhof Flats have vowed that ‘all hell would break loose if anyone tries to evict them.’
