“When the officials get here they are rude towards us, very arrogant; we feel intimidated and disrespected,” said a Farrarmere Gardens Concerned Committee member.
“Are we being treated like this because we are poor?
“Rich people are treated differently; we want equality,” added another committee member.
The committee claimed that they are not taken seriously or treated equally.
According to the committee, the officials also tell residents that they have been evicted and that they are here to collect the house keys, without giving the residents court orders.
“We have had pensioners who had not been issued with court orders actually moving out, because they were frightened,” added a member of the committee.
“Farrarmere Gardens residents are not the only people who are complaining about them, people from as far as Boksburg are complaining about how disrespectful and rude they are,” said an angry member.
According to metro spokesman Sam Modiba, all metro officials are required to ensure the public are afforded respect and dignity and to act in accordance with the principles of Batho Pele.
“The required disciplinary action will be taken in the event that an official, on the basis of proof and evidence provided, is found to have not acted in accordance with policies and principles of the metro,” he said.
Residents cannot be evicted without the legal process being followed, including a court order.
Modiba added that, in the event that a member of the public needs to submit a complaint about the poor behaviour of a specific official, the relevant head of department can be contacted, for investigation and action.
