Costly ignorance

03 March 2008 - 02:00
By unknown

The ignorance displayed by the Blouberg municipality in dealing with squatters in their area is mind-boggling.

The ignorance displayed by the Blouberg municipality in dealing with squatters in their area is mind-boggling.

Barely two years after being sued for R23 million for illegally demolishing 500 shacks in the area, the council was last week criticised by the Pretoria high court for reverting to its shameful act.

The council left nearly 10 000 residents homeless in Desmond Park near Mogwadi in December. Last week the court ruled that the council's decision was illegal and ordered it to rebuild the shacks within 14 days.

The council's ignorance of the law is costing taxpayers a lot of money. Officials must stop applying apartheid policies of demolishing shacks to resolve housing problems.

They must stop harassing people and deliver.