The family of an elderly KwaZulu-Natal woman whose house was demolished by an ANC-led municipality to make way for a road has been granted a protection order to prevent officials from harassing her.
After Sowetan reported about the pensioner's appalling living conditions, angry municipal officials stormed her temporary shelter and threatened her.
Triphina Manda of Malende village in the KwaDukuza local municipality fears for her life after municipal housing officials visited her.
Manda's daughter Nomathemba Ngwenya said her mother was left shaking with fear and anxiety after the officials attacked her.
"They forcefully broke the door open and accused my mother of being ungrateful. They verbally attacked her and broke items in the house," Ngwenya said.
"I had to report the matter to the police for a protection order in case something bad happens to her."
She said the attack took place on Friday night. "Since I am married, I do not stay with her. I got a call from neighbours that my mother was being attacked and I rushed there. When I arrived these people were already gone," said Ngwenya, who stays about 20km away.
KwaDukuza police spokesman Warrant officer Sipho Mfeka confirmed that a case of assault and damage to property was opened at the station. "No arrest has been made yet but police are investigating the complaint."
Councillor Nomonde Mthethwa said the matter was reported to her and that she was working with the family to assist the elderly woman identify her attackers.
"This is a despicable and inhumane act which shall not go unpunished. We can't allow the situation where elders are harmed and harassed instead of being protected," said Mthethwa.
The pensioner's woes started in May 2013 when contractors demolished her house on the municipality's orders.
Officials from the ANC-led municipality told Manda she'd be relocated to a new house and receive compensation for her loss.
She was then allocated an RDP house which had not been claimed, but ended up sharing the one-bedroom house with her four grandchildren.
In February, things turned ugly when a man told her that he was the house's rightful owner and gave the pensioner six months to find alternative accommodation.
Her worried daughter approached municipal housing officials and was told that her mother's house was fraudulently given to someone else in November 2014.
She was then presented with the title deed and house keys of the house her mother never owned.
Municipal spokesman Sifiso Zulu said the municipality would take all reasonable steps to assist the old woman get her own house.
"We have undertaken to bring to book the contractor and officials who are implicated," Zulu said.
Municipal bullies harass elderly woman at home
The family of an elderly KwaZulu-Natal woman whose house was demolished by an ANC-led municipality to make way for a road has been granted a protection order to prevent officials from harassing her.
After Sowetan reported about the pensioner's appalling living conditions, angry municipal officials stormed her temporary shelter and threatened her.
Triphina Manda of Malende village in the KwaDukuza local municipality fears for her life after municipal housing officials visited her.
Manda's daughter Nomathemba Ngwenya said her mother was left shaking with fear and anxiety after the officials attacked her.
"They forcefully broke the door open and accused my mother of being ungrateful. They verbally attacked her and broke items in the house," Ngwenya said.
"I had to report the matter to the police for a protection order in case something bad happens to her."
She said the attack took place on Friday night. "Since I am married, I do not stay with her. I got a call from neighbours that my mother was being attacked and I rushed there. When I arrived these people were already gone," said Ngwenya, who stays about 20km away.
KwaDukuza police spokesman Warrant officer Sipho Mfeka confirmed that a case of assault and damage to property was opened at the station. "No arrest has been made yet but police are investigating the complaint."
Councillor Nomonde Mthethwa said the matter was reported to her and that she was working with the family to assist the elderly woman identify her attackers.
"This is a despicable and inhumane act which shall not go unpunished. We can't allow the situation where elders are harmed and harassed instead of being protected," said Mthethwa.
The pensioner's woes started in May 2013 when contractors demolished her house on the municipality's orders.
Officials from the ANC-led municipality told Manda she'd be relocated to a new house and receive compensation for her loss.
She was then allocated an RDP house which had not been claimed, but ended up sharing the one-bedroom house with her four grandchildren.
In February, things turned ugly when a man told her that he was the house's rightful owner and gave the pensioner six months to find alternative accommodation.
Her worried daughter approached municipal housing officials and was told that her mother's house was fraudulently given to someone else in November 2014.
She was then presented with the title deed and house keys of the house her mother never owned.
Municipal spokesman Sifiso Zulu said the municipality would take all reasonable steps to assist the old woman get her own house.
"We have undertaken to bring to book the contractor and officials who are implicated," Zulu said.
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