Written by Kormorant | 2 September 2010

The illegal occupiers of houses at the Refentse Low Cost Housing Project in Rietfontein, Hartbeespoort were given 30 notice to vacate the houses or face legal action. Officials of the Local Municipality of Madibeng, accompanied by members of the SAPS, delivered the letters to the occupiers on Friday.

Mr. Patrick Morathi, spokesperson for the Local Municipality of Madibeng, told Kormorant that approximately 108 of the 167 houses are occupied by beneficiaries listed on their date base as eligible for houses. The other 59 received letters of notification that they had to move within 30 days. Morathi said that the reason for the notices to vacate was to the correct the illegal invasion of the houses which exists.

He said the municipality is not obliged alternative housing at this stage. “These people were informed in meetings to vacate these houses, this is just the implementing process. Only those who may qualify for a housing subsidy will be provided with housing should a housing new project be undertaken,” Morathi said.

He indicated that should the illegal occupiers ignore the notices the municipality will then start the legal process to secure and eviction order from the court.

Mr. Martin Serero, a representative for the residents who received the notices, told Kormorant that there were some of the residents, who are housing beneficiaries, who mistakenly received notices to vacate the house and that this will have to be rectified. According to him they have drawn up a letter to the municipality in which they indicate that they will move but refuse to move back to one of the informal settlements.