Thembisa property disputes put evictions in the spotlight

The Tembisa Community Forum (TCF), Leso Estates, and Serokolo Attorneys and Conveyancers recently held a community meeting in Thembisa to educate residents on housing sales, eviction procedures, and the duties of sheriffs.

In the late 2000s, numerous homes in Thembisa were auctioned following the liquidation and forced closure of a bank operating in the 1990s.

When the auctions concluded, many households faced eviction by sheriffs accompanied by police, although community members claimed hitmen were also used to intimidate them.

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To date, community members claim these properties have been sold to various individuals without proper procedures being followed.

In one instance, a speaker revealed that their family home owed the municipality R400 000, but was sold via auction and subsequently resold for R100 000, causing widespread confusion.

The TCF brought together relevant stakeholders, including the police, to answer community questions and provide guidance.
They also stressed the importance of drafting a will for property, noting that when an owner dies intestate, family disputes can lead to unauthorised sales and forced evictions.

Once an eviction notice is issued, authorities have the legal right to remove occupants deemed illegal.

TCF chairperson Lelenkie Lefakane said the organisation aims to educate residents on preventing evictions.

“Evictions have been an ongoing issue in Thembisa, and TCF began educating the community about them in 2023,” she said.
“The issue subsided until late 2024, but it has now escalated, with residents sending us eviction notices.”

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She added that the TCF works closely with the eviction office in Kempton Park to help affected residents secure legal representation.

She also noted that evictors often arrive with hitmen rather than police, leading residents to question the legality of the process.