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SIZWE samaYENDE

MORE than 120 families spent four days without shelter this week after a municipal authority demolished their shacks.

The 121 families were evicted from land in Piet Retief that the Mkhondo municipality earmarked for low-cost houses.

However, no council resolution was taken and no court order was obtained to destroy the shacks in wards 11 and 13.

The families used cardboard boxes to ward off the Highveld winter.

By law, the municipality has a responsibility to provide them with alternative land. This has not been done.

The families' spokesperson, Philemon Mavuso, said they had been waiting to be allocated stands with low-cost houses, but that facilitators appointed by the council had demanded bribes.

"So, the community decided to squat," Mavuso said.

"It was not the first time that the municipality has demolished property.

"In February this year, 30 homes were demolished and we had to march. We got no response or redress from the council."

Mkhondo mayor Mary Khumalo declined to comment this week and referred questions to council legal representative Christo Robbertse, who said the municipality was doing its "utmost" to help the squatters.

When asked why the municipality evicted the families without a court order, he said: "There are various Acts applicable in this situation and certain notices and procedures to be followed through court."

The families want to rebuild their homes on the same site and are drawing up a list of their destroyed belongings so they can claim compensation. - African Eye News Service

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