The Department of Human Settlements has turned to the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) to get an eviction order against thousands of people unlawfully occupying low-cost houses. According to Rapport, the department says in its court papers that at least 888 houses were grabbed by mostly young, employed people who do not qualify for government housing.

A group of people broke into the offices of the contractor building houses in Olievenhoutbosch, Centurion, and stole the keys to houses now occupied by families. Departmental head Matilda Gasela told the court complaints were filed, but the police refused to assist the government without a court order.

The situation in the area is ‘increasingly volatile’ and contractors and officials were instructed not to interact with the occupiers as the government fears an outbreak of violence. When the government wanted to do a survey of occupied houses in January, officials had to be escorted by the public order police, the Mamelodi police, Tshwane metro police and a private security company.

‘Other groups’ who also don’t qualify for housing are now threatening to burn down the occupied houses as they want houses, too, Gasela says in her affidavit.

The unlawful occupation took place despite an interdict in December last year. The court has now ordered all occupiers to vacate the houses by 30 June, but does not offer guidance on what should be done if the occupiers refuse to leave.

Full report in Rapport (subscription needed)