Khayelitsha residents protested outside the Magistrate's Court this week demanding a moratorium on bank evictions through the court and the reinstatement of houses to families.

According to GroundUp, Peter Lonwabo, a regional convener of the SA National Civics Organisation, which organised the protest, said: ‘Some residents die while they still owe banks R3 500 or less and the banks evict their kids. We say the banks must stop evicting kids when their parents die while they are still in debt,’ he said.

Lonwabo said the residents protested outside the court because the court issues the eviction orders. He said: ‘If the court continues to give eviction orders against the home owners, we will shut it down.’

Community leader Zukile Sinama said banks put houses on auction without the knowledge of the owners. ‘Owners can’t go to the auction to buy their houses again cheaply. A house is auctioned for R3 000 while the owner owes the bank only R4 000,’ he said.

Sinama said: ‘The courts must stop issuing eviction orders, otherwise we won’t stop the residents when they defy the sheriffs.’

Community leader Kholekile Mwahla said the courts must give the evictees alternative accommodation. He said about 200 families are facing evictions ‘but others are resisting’ in various townships.

Court manager Velile Yayi received the protesters’ memorandum and promised to meet the community leaders and advise them which senior court officials they could meet to discuss their demands.

Full GroundUp report