Muldersdrift residents protest against real estate developer

Outraged residents of Tilly’s Farm in Muldersdrift recently protested outside Country Gardens Estate, a luxury housing development of real estate developer MAXXLiving.

The residents were allegedly kicked off ‘their’ residential area. In early July last year, the homes of Tilly’s Farm residents were, according to the residents, unlawfully demolished by MAXXLiving to clear the land for Country Gardens Estate. This was despite the residents having the right to remain in their homes under the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA).

On 28 July last year, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) obtained a court order requiring MAXXLiving to provide temporary accommodation for the residents and to rebuild their demolished homes within 90 days.

LHR spokesperson David Dickson said that the company has done an unjustifiable act and will ensure that their rights are restored.

The rule of law is central to our democracy. Nobody should make people homeless unlawfully and then ignore a court order.

It is for this reason that LHR has brought contempt of court proceedings against MAXXLiving and its director. At the end of the day, we want the residents’ homes rebuilt as the law requires,” said Dickson.

When it became apparent that MAXXLiving was not abiding by the court order, LHRs instituted contempt of court proceedings which went to trial on July 18. The residents eventually made sure they would be heard when they held a protest outside the company’s site offices at the corner of the R114 and Marina Street, Muldersdrift.

Tilly’s Farm spokesperson Margaret Mokgomola expressed her frustration regarding the treatment of residents.

“We were made homeless and left in shacks by MAXXLiving. The court said that our homes must be rebuilt within three months, but we have been suffering for over a year and there is no end in sight. July 18 was Mandela Day and this is not what Mandela wanted! Our rights are being ignored.”

MAXXLiving director Arthur Bezuidenhout maintains that the residents were never forcefully removed from their property.

“We want to clarify that we are not forcefully removing residents from Tilly’s Farm. Instead, we have reached an agreement to construct proper formal housing for them. It is important to note that the property in question does not exclusively belong to the residents,” said Bezuidenhout.

He also added that the company was never in contempt of court and has fully complied with the court order issued by the Land Claims Court.

We would like to emphasise that MaxxLiving is not in contempt of court in any way, our company is fully complying with the court order issued by the Land Claims Court, as agreed upon by all parties involved,” Bezuidenhout added.

Following the court proceedings that took place on July 18, judgment has been reserved for two weeks.

The Krugersdorp News will provide more updates on this developing story.