SA Human Rights Commission spokesman Isaac Mangena said today the High Court in Johannesburg granted the commission’s application, and suspended the demolitions for at least 24 hours.

“The court is also granting the department an opportunity to respond to the commission’s application which will be heard on Tuesday,” he said.

The Gauteng department of local government and housing began destroying houses last Thursday and Friday as the land they had been built on was meant for government housing.

About 50 houses had been destroyed so far and another 113 were yet to be demolished. Fraudsters had apparently sold plots of the land, giving buyers forged deeds of sale with the department’s logo.

The department defended the demolitions and said it was acting in line with the law.

On Monday residents blockaded a road leading into Lenasia with rocks and burning tyres, protesting against the demolitions.

Mangena said the judge presiding over the matter asked that the commission conduct a poll to determine how many people would be affected by the demolitions, and how many houses had been, and would be, destroyed.

“This gives us time to consult with the residents to establish factual evidence that may be of assistance to all parties in this matter,” he said.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sun May 19 04:24:05 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 12, 2012

LeparaThePresident

Its about time, them the Lenasia community should vote Zille?Lekota so that they can l help them sue Gauteng Provicial Dept of Housing
Report Abuse

Nov 12, 2012

ISIDINDI

If these houses were built on an illegal land, on what grounds did the Courts issue that order? An illegal transaction, can it be remedied by the courts? I am just asking?
Report Abuse

Nov 12, 2012

LeparaThePresident

@ISIDINDI, yes the houses were built on illegal grounds, people were dubed, there was a scam. But you do not punishe the victims, you find a way out that favours all sides. I am of the position that the houses should be demolished but after getting all the facts regarding the stans i thought there should be a way forward that will minimizes the damages already done.
Report Abuse

Nov 12, 2012

MrBean

@LeparaThePresident

I agree with you. Surely there must be an alternative way other than demolision. Poor people were victims of a scam.
Report Abuse

Nov 12, 2012

malemaforpresident

Remind me of the fake Freedom Charter
Report Abuse

Nov 12, 2012

MusaMahlangu64501

Government must be able to plan for the city's growth and to keep land aside for houses, clinics, parks etc. This court is crazy! There is no justification for invading land because a person claims to be poor. Government has built over 3 free RDP million houses, at 5 people per house. That means 15SAcans who were homeless are now housed. We have a population of 52 million. 10 million or so is privileged whites. 50% are under 25. These are not poor people even, just ruthless looters. These are illegal structures period. If they know how to approach courts and file papers surely they are sophisticated enough to verify deeds of sale etc
Report Abuse

Nov 13, 2012

!#Sinudeity#!

MusaMahlangu64501 - Check ur facts bru.

The white population is only 5 million. Not 10 million 'privileged whites'. The black middle class is bigger than the entire white population added together.
Report Abuse

Read all 7 comments