Court will rule on evictions

26 March 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

The supreme court of appeal is expected to give judgment today on the planned evictions of about 300 people from six inner- city buildings declared unsafe by the City of Johannesburg.

The supreme court of appeal is expected to give judgment today on the planned evictions of about 300 people from six inner- city buildings declared unsafe by the City of Johannesburg.

The court earlier sat on the city's appeal application after the Johannesburg high court had dismissed the city's eviction order applications.

The city wants to evict the people from the properties under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act.

This act enables the city to prevent people from living in dangerous conditions in buildings under its jurisdiction.

But the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand contends that a high court ruling last year banned mass evictions of poor people from inner-city buildings without providing alternative accommodation.

The centre is supporting the residents in their case.

The case concerns four houses and a multi-storey building in Berea, and a disused panelbeating workshop on Main Street. - Sapa