Residents take council to court
2008-07-10
IN a further development in the hostel housing saga in White City, Mbekweni, two residents successfully sued the Drakenstein Municipality for the second time in two months over their right to retain their housing. Previously, Eunice Feke and Zibonele Singama had each occupied a house in White City, but last year they got notice that they had been allocated ownership of new RDP houses. Both vehemently objected to the move on the grounds that the new houses were much smaller than their current abodes (former hostels which have been subdivided into housing units). In March, Feke was evicted from House 269A by members of the community, in favour of the occupant to whom the house had been allocated by the local negotiation group (LNG) appointed by the Municipality. In May, Feke obtained a court order allowing her to return to the house, but she was stoned by an angry mob of local residents. The house was trashed and the windows broken while Feke fled. Seventeen people appeared in court charged with public violence. According to Singama, who has been living at 254B since 1991, he was also intimidated by residents. He insists on becoming the official owner of the home he has so long occupied. “After my retirement I found it very strange to hear from the committee that I had to go to a new house.” Like Feke he was forced to flee his house in fear of his life last month. The door of his room was forced and broken. The two plaintiffs on Friday obtained a court order in the Paarl magistrate’s court, with Norma Smile presiding, instructing the municipality to carry out repairs on their original abodes, so that they can return. The Municipality is considering appealing the decision,citing the policy that subdivided hostel houses were to be allocated to the first occupant, and that this person should be married, while overflow occupants must move to new houses. Neither Feke or Singama are first occupants. According to an affidavit submitted on behalf of Drakenstein Mayor Charmaine Manuel, it is understandable that the rightful occupants have become upset with overflow occupants who have refused to move to their new houses: “It is for these reasons that community members have resorted to taking steps to evict the overflow occupants, who refuse to vacate the property.”
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