ConCourt ruling prevents eviction of illegal occupants in Joburg CBD
Thousands of illegal occupants of buildings within Joburg’s inner city cannot be evicted due to a Constitutional court ruling.
The issue of Joburg’s hijacked buildings comes in the wake of last week’s Marshalltown fire tragedy where 77 people lost their lives.
Non-government organizations represent thousands of illegal occupants who have hijacked state and privately-owned buildings within Joburg.
Property attorney Greg Vermaak said the living conditions in some of these buildings are inhumane.
“I genuinely believe that there are buildings more dangerous to live in than living on the street, but it’s not appropriate, people should never live on the street in a country like this, but the people of 80 Albert street would have been better off sleeping on the pavement than in that building,” said Vermaak.
But the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (Seri) which represents illegal occupants of about 20 buildings in the inner city, disputes this.
Seri spokesperson Edward Molopi said: “Those who approach us have made the choice that the streets are not better than the dilapidated building. Why? Because these are mothers with children, these are young people who cannot be found to live on the street because of the safety concerns”.
A 2011 Concourt ruling made it clear that if the city of Joburg cannot provide temporary emergency accommodation for illegal occupants of a building, they cannot be evicted.
-EWN
In other news – Watch: Connie Ferguson loses focus as Kelly Rowland’s song slaps her hard
Popular American singer Kelly Rowland’s hit song ‘Work’ caught South African actress, entrepreneur, and businesswoman, Connie Ferguson off-guard dancing in the gym. The South African actress is well known for her love for dancing and time in the gym.
She had managed to keep her body in shape thanks to her gym workouts and music always helping her. This time around, Connie lost it all when she played Kelly’s hit song Work. Read More
