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eviction attorneys Cape Town Archives | Page 2 of 3 | Eviction Lawyers South Africa

Aug 29
0

No evictions or demolitions without a court order, judges rule

By | Eviction law case summaries, Eviction news, Eviction orders, Evictions

Reprinted from BizCommunity, by James Stent – 2020-08-27

The City of Cape Town’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit (ALIU) will not be allowed to evict people or demolish their structures, whether occupied or unoccupied, without a court order while the country remains in a state of national disaster.
Bulelani Qolani, who was evicted from his shack in July. The Western Cape High Court on Tuesday ruled that the City of Cape Town must have a court order to evict someone or demolish a home during the state of national disaster. Archive photo: James Stent / GroundUp

Bulelani Qolani, who was evicted from his shack in July. The Western Cape High Court on Tuesday ruled that the City of Cape Town must have a court order to evict someone or demolish a home during the state of national disaster. Archive photo: James Stent / GroundUp

Judges Shehnaz Meer and Rosheni Allie in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday afternoon granted an interim relief stating that the City must have a court order to evict anyone or demolish a home.

The case was brought by the SA Human Rights Commission following a string of demolitions and evictions by the City of Cape Town in recently-occupied informal settlements. The removal of Bulelani Qolani from his shack by City officers while naked was widely covered in the media. Other respondents listed in the case included the Ministers of Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Police, and SAPS national commissioner.

Judges Meer and Allie also ordered that in cases where a court order is obtained for an eviction or demolition, the City must execute the order in a lawful and respectful manner that “upholds the dignity of the evicted persons”. They said the City is “expressly prohibited from using excessive force” and may not destroy or confiscate material belonging to those evicted.

The court has given the City a week to return “all building material and personal possessions” taken by the ALIU since 1 May and ordered that it pay R2,000 to the parties cited by the Economic Freedom Fighters in its submissions to the court.

The City was further interdicted from “considering, adjudicating and awarding” bids and tenders related to demolition services for the ALIU.

The court also instructed SAPS members present at a court-sanctioned demolition or eviction to ensure that the actions are being lawfully executed and to “protect the dignity of the persons evicted”.

Costs of the application will be shouldered by the City of Cape Town, except for the costs of the hearing of 25 July.

Mayor Dan Plato has said he has instructed the City’s lawyers to appeal the decision. He said that the judgment sets a dangerous precedent for all landowners. “If left unchallenged, the interdict would make it almost impossible for landowners to protect their property from unlawful occupation and to prevent people from establishing homes, albeit unlawfully, on the property of others. The knock-on effect of the large-scale orchestrated land invasions we have seen is simply devastating for Cape Town, its communities, residents in general and the City.”

In October, hearings will be held to determine whether or not the municipality has the authority to execute demolitions or evictions without a court order after the end of the state of national disaster.

This article was originally published on GroundUp.

Some links added by SD Law.
Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Inc. is a firm of specialist eviction lawyers, based in Cape Town and now operating in Johannesburg and Durban, helping both landlords and tenants with the eviction process. Contact one of our attorneys on 086 099 5146 or sdippenaar@sdlaw.co.za if you need advice on the eviction process or if you are facing unlawful eviction.

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Feb 26
0

Glen Marikana residents ready for their first day of relocation

By | Eviction news, Eviction notice, Eviction orders, Evictions

Current structures that will be left behind after the relocation will be destroyed by the City.

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Residents of Glen Marikana Informal Settlement will be relocated to a new site in Putfontein as from today [Monday, 24 Feb].

This follows an eviction order granted by the Johannesburg High Court in November 2018, instructing the City of Ekurhuleni to seek an alternative residential site for the close to 3 000 residents who had illegally occupied private land on Dann Road in Glen Marais since 2017.

Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, Clr Lesiba Mpya, announced the relocation date during a meeting with the affected households recently.

“Our role as a responsible government is to comply with the court order and move our people to a safe and secure place. We are currently engaged in a verification process to ensure that every occupant’s name is the one that appears in the court order,” Mpya  said.

The MMC also said work began in earnest in reblocking the new site so that when the new occupants arrive, they have access roads and stand pipes, including ablution facilities.

“We will provide transportation for the residents to make sure they settle well at their new site which they would call home,” he said.

Current structures that will be left behind after the relocation will be destroyed by the City.

Samuel Motshali, one of those affected dwellers, said: “I am originally from Limpopo and I have been here for the past three years after losing my job and couldn’t afford to pay rent.”

Community leader Kwena Monama said people would start packing their belonging on Saturday in readiness for the relocation on Monday.

“We are constantly communicating with the MMC’s office and we are ready to be moved to our new site,” he said.

Reprinted from Kempton Express – 2020-02-24. Emphasis/links by SD Law.

If you need help with an eviction matter…

We are eviction lawyers in Cape Town and Johannesburg. We act for both landlords and tenants and uphold the rights of each to a fair and satisfactory tenancy. If you are a landlord, we will make sure any eviction you undertake is fair and lawful. If you are a tenant and facing an unfair eviction, we will defend your rights. Contact Simon at Cape Town Eviction Attorneys on 086 099 5146 or email sdippenaar@sdlaw.co.za.

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Feb 23
0

Wentworth residents protest in defence of woman’s forced removal

By | Uncategorized

Durban – A group of residents living in the south Durban township of Wentworth burnt tyres and debris on the road in a form of protest following an apparent eviction of a woman and her family at a block of flats on Friday.

At this stage, it is alleged that the woman and her family moved into the apartment of a previous resident who recently passed away.

When security and local authorities arrived to evict the woman, residents jumped to her defence.

They then set tyres alight, blocking off part of Austerville Drive and Goede Hoop Street.

“About 100 community members embarked in a protest action after an elderly woman was evicted  by the Sheriff of the Court after she occupied the flat illegally,” Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said

“They blockaded the Austerville Drive with burning tyres and rubble. The road has been cleared and police are monitoring,” Gwala said.

Residents have expressed their anger over the woman’s apparent forced removal. They are demanding that she be allowed to move into the flat as she has been living in the area for many years.

Reprinted from the Mercury News – 2020-02-21. Emphasis/links by SD Law.

If you need help with an eviction matter…

We are eviction lawyers in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and we believe the landlord-tenant relationship should be built on trust. We act for both landlords and tenants and uphold the rights of each to a fair and satisfactory tenancy. Make sure any eviction you undertake is fair and lawful. Contact Simon at Cape Town Eviction Attorneys on 086 099 5146 or email sdippenaar@sdlaw.co.za.

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