RESIDENTS of a squatter camp in Pretoria East want compensation for their shacks and belongings that were burnt by the Tshwane metro police last week.
The municipality has provided the residents with tents following a Pretoria high court interim ruling on Friday, ordering the council to erect emergency shelters - instead of relocating the squatters to a site on Struben street near Marabastad.
The residents told Sowetan yesterday that the tents provided some relief but said they wanted compensation for their burnt belongings.
Zimbabwean national Richard Ngodoni said he lost R5000 worth of new clothes and shoes he had bought for his children and wife back home.
"I almost fainted when I returned from work to find that all the items I had worked so hard for had been reduced to ashes.
"They had no right to destroy our belongings. I told my children that I had bought them clothes and now I do not know what I am going to say to them."
Ngodoni's sentiments were echoed by Holy Cross Convent sisters who visited the area yesterday to offer the destitute community food and blankets.
"You cannot just walk into a settlement and burn poor people's meagre belongings. It is inhumane and these people must be compensated for their loss.
"They are here to work hard so that they can support their dependants back home," said Sister Aine Hughes.
She said they would consult the Lawyers for Human Rights to see to it that the squatters were compensated.
Hughes added that the municipality should also clean the settlement as it has been reduced to a heap of burnt rubble and posed a health risk.
Turning down the municipality's intention to relocate the squatters, Pretoria high court judge Jody Kollapen said though the emergency housing suggestion by the council was not inhumane, it would create problems as people would have to commute.
Michael Furanji, 39, who lives with his wife and two month-old son, said it would have been financially impossible to commute because he earns only R1000 a month as a security guard.
It would cost him R1200 taxi fare a month to commute between Marabastad and Mooikloof where he is employed.
The squatters moved into the vacant piece of land between the Pretoria East cemetery and Woodlands Boulevard shopping centre seven years ago.
Tshwane must pay damages - residents
RESIDENTS of a squatter camp in Pretoria East want compensation for their shacks and belongings that were burnt by the Tshwane metro police last week.
The municipality has provided the residents with tents following a Pretoria high court interim ruling on Friday, ordering the council to erect emergency shelters - instead of relocating the squatters to a site on Struben street near Marabastad.
The residents told Sowetan yesterday that the tents provided some relief but said they wanted compensation for their burnt belongings.
Zimbabwean national Richard Ngodoni said he lost R5000 worth of new clothes and shoes he had bought for his children and wife back home.
"I almost fainted when I returned from work to find that all the items I had worked so hard for had been reduced to ashes.
"They had no right to destroy our belongings. I told my children that I had bought them clothes and now I do not know what I am going to say to them."
Ngodoni's sentiments were echoed by Holy Cross Convent sisters who visited the area yesterday to offer the destitute community food and blankets.
"You cannot just walk into a settlement and burn poor people's meagre belongings. It is inhumane and these people must be compensated for their loss.
"They are here to work hard so that they can support their dependants back home," said Sister Aine Hughes.
She said they would consult the Lawyers for Human Rights to see to it that the squatters were compensated.
Hughes added that the municipality should also clean the settlement as it has been reduced to a heap of burnt rubble and posed a health risk.
Turning down the municipality's intention to relocate the squatters, Pretoria high court judge Jody Kollapen said though the emergency housing suggestion by the council was not inhumane, it would create problems as people would have to commute.
Michael Furanji, 39, who lives with his wife and two month-old son, said it would have been financially impossible to commute because he earns only R1000 a month as a security guard.
It would cost him R1200 taxi fare a month to commute between Marabastad and Mooikloof where he is employed.
The squatters moved into the vacant piece of land between the Pretoria East cemetery and Woodlands Boulevard shopping centre seven years ago.
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