Cutting Edge | Mthatha properties

Nomsa Ndlovu and her family were allocated a house in Fortgale in Mthatha in 2002 when she started working for the then University of Transkei (WSU). The lease agreement was granted, and there were no time frames for it to expire. They were then given an option to purchase the property in 2009, but to their surprise, they were evicted this year in September, accused of over-occupation.

Zanele Ntshotsho is also a victim of an alleged eviction. She is still challenging the eviction order in court as she was able to submit all the requirements proving that she is up to date with rental and water payments, and she is in possession of a document giving her an offer to purchase the property.

Eighty-five-year-old Dr Mkhwanazi has been served with a notice to evict him. His health deteriorated after receiving threats that he would be evicted in 30 days.

Heather Pretorius is now homeless after she was evicted in 2022 while teaching at Transkei Primary School in Mthatha. In all the cases, the eviction went ahead irrespective of evictees presenting proof of rent and water payment.

SANCO weighed in to challenge the status quo. Even young people who are renting commercial buildings of the department are facing eviction after they stopped paying rent and started renovating the building of Public works they found in a dilapidated condition. This after numerous calls fell on deaf ears when they asked the department to refurbish it.

The lawyers representing the Public Works Department refused to respond, while one of them sent court judgments to prove that he acted lawfully. The Department of Public Works in the Eastern Cape is adamant that it will continue with the drive to bring back Mthatha properties from the hands of illegal occupants. Meanwhile, the receipts proving proof of payment were never submitted to the judge, according to tenants, hence the order to evict them went ahead. SANCO and Mthatha activists are now approaching the President to appoint a forensic investigating team to look into what they believe is white colar crime ravaging unsuspecting tenant. The alleged corruption has been labelled by SANCO to lawyers and politicians regarding the management of the properties.

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