City task team to look into inner city evictions
10 November 2015
The City of Johannesburg is to appoint a task team to look into various issues surrounding evictions in the Johannesburg inner city with a view to finding an amicable solution to the problem.This was announced by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau during an inner city evictions summit at Metro Centre in Braamfontein on Monday November 9.
The task team will include officials from four of the City’s departments – Housing, Development Planning, Health and Social Development and Revenue – as well as from the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) and the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA). There will be five community representatives in the team.
Problems related to sectional title housing schemes, the housing crisis in Alexandra and related problems in Dobsonville, Jeppestown and other areas will also be addressed. Mayor Tau ordered an audit of all inner city buildings to establish who owned them and how much they owed the City in rates and taxes.
The announcement followed a heated debate during which residents blamed foreigners and absentee white slumlords for their woes. The more than 200 residents who packed the auditorium demanded that the Mayor declare a moratorium on evictions and accused certain officials in the Revenue Department of colluding with landlords to have them evicted after fraudulently selling the buildings.
Mayor Tau, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning Councillor Roslyn Greeff and Councillor Phineas Madisha cautioned residents against pointing fingers at foreigners and white landlords. They, instead, urged them to focus on finding solutions to the challenges in the City’s efforts to provide affordable accommodation. Those with information on collusion and corruption were urged to come forward.
Mayor Tau said the City was already working with the Hawks, the country's elite crime fighting unit; the National Prosecuting Authority; and the South African Police Service to investigate some of the allegations. He urged residents who could afford to pay for services to do so to enable the City to help the poor.“The City provides housing options for all. That’s why we have to continuously update our policies to deal with the growing demand. It’s not an unreasonable demand for people to want to own property and benefit from government schemes. But the flipside of this discussion is that those who can afford to pay should do so,” the Mayor said.
He said the Prevention of Illegal Evictions Act, which obliged the city to find temporary accommodation for evictees, was creating problems.
MMC Greeff said the focus should be on building a vibrant, dynamic and integrated inner city.
Nombeko Monoali of Berea said the summit was “long overdue” and felt the City’s leaders had abandoned them. She slammed the police, property owners, Sheriff of the Court and City officials for “being corrupt”. She said the Red Ants destroyed people’s property during evictions.“There’s no justice for black people. I’m in a wheelchair and spent nine days in jail. I’m appealing to the councillors. People are suffering.” Christina Kedikiloe was happy that the sectional title issue would be addressed because it was confusing.
Every month, the City receives 300 eviction applications. At present more than 5 000 residents in the inner city and surrounding areas are facing evictions.
The city has identified 1 000 buildings to be renovated and converted into temporary accommodation for evictees, as required by the law.