Questions raised over 20 tenants living rent-free in Bedfordview cottages

Twenty tenants have occupied the Bedfordview Fireman Cottages on Bothma Road without paying for municipal services since 2000.

Providing background, Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys said the cottages were originally built for firefighters and their families because of the nature of their work and the need to be on call at all hours.

“Subsequently, when the City of Ekurhuleni was formed, other employees in the city said, ‘We also work 24/7, and we are just as entitled to that sort of accommodation.’ So it is not just firefighters living here,” said Humphreys.

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Humphreys said these tenants do not pay for water, electricity or accommodation.

In May, during an ordinary council meeting, Humphreys submitted questions to the MMC for Development Planning and Real Estate, Clr Dino Peterson.

Asked who occupied the cottages, Peterson said there were 20 occupants, including one illegal occupant, one person who hijacked a property, one former employee who retired, and one retired employee.

Peterson said evictions occurred in 2019, when the Real Estate Department began managing Department of Disaster Management and Emergency Services (DEMS) properties.

“It was approximately three properties where occupants were evicted as they had no relationship with the city,” Peterson said.

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Humphreys also asked how often the Real Estate Department inspects the cottages and whether it could provide inspection reports.

Peterson admitted that quarterly inspections are routinely conducted; however, these consistently yield non-conclusive reports.

He explained that this persistent inability to furnish fully compliant inspection documentation stems directly from the occupants’ consistent refusal to grant departmental officials access to the premises.

“To overcome this impediment and facilitate comprehensive data collection, the department is now formalising a request to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department for escort services, thereby enabling access and the subsequent compilation of thoroughly compliant inspection reports,” said Peterson.

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Humphreys asked if the inspection reports would include information about alleged crimes, such as drug trade and prostitution, as reported by the Community Policing Forum (CPF).

However, Peterson said the department lacks the specialised expertise or jurisdiction to conduct crime assessments, including evaluations of illicit activities on these properties.

“Crime is a problem all over that precinct, and we will go and have a look during our next operation,” said Bedfordview CPF chairperson Collin McKenzie.

Regarding maintenance performed and costs over the past five years, Peterson said no formal maintenance plan has been implemented due to prevailing financial constraints.

In a recent ordinary council meeting, DA Proportional Representation councillor Joelene Mthethwa posed follow-up questions regarding the matter.

Mthethwa asked how the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) intends to enforce service payments from tenants.

Peterson said the Development Planning and Real Estate Department has requested the Water and Sanitation and Energy departments to install prepaid meters at each property.

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He added that a key challenge has been that some occupants refuse to sign lease agreements with the city, which is required to open individual service accounts with the Finance Department.

Humphreys added that residents pay for these employees to live rent-free, noting that they are salaried employees rather than destitute individuals.

“I have been trying to get a resolution around this issue ever since I’ve been doing this job.

“I must say, particularly the Bedfordview Fireman Cottages are valuable real estate, well built, but all over the city are firemen cottages occupied in the same way,” said Humphreys.