WATCH: EFF demands ‘payment holiday’ for Tshwane CBD flat dwellers

The EFF targeted City Property in the CBD, Huurkor in Sunnyside, Ronmark and Mid City among others, calling a halt to rental increases for the next 12 months.

The protesters said they were concerned about the effects of Covid-19 which led to many job losses and pay cuts. Property management agencies could not continue as though it was business as usual, protesters said.

The EFF called on the agencies to provide a ‘payment holiday’ to all tenants who were unable to pay their monthly rent, for no evictions to take place during the period of lockdown and that water and electricity cuts to be stopped immediately by the agencies.

The party also called on the payment clause on any termination of contracts to be cancelled or relooked for tenants who were looking to end their leases early.

EFF Tshwane regional chairperson Moafrika Oliver said the party was fighting for people who were evicted from flats in the CBD.

He accused property management agencies of being ‘real criminals’.

“These are crooks and they should be arrested. Police are saying crime in Sunnyside is done by foreign nationals; however, crime is done by property management agencies who refuse to accept our memorandum.

“These crooks belong in jail. We will make sure our memorandum does not go into the dustbin,” he said as Huurkor Property Group’s Nicholas de Villiers accepted the memorandum.

While City Property management acknowledged the memorandum, the company said it understood that there was a problem.

City Property Administration managing director Jeffrey Wapnick said a number of property management companies, including his, had been affected by Covid-19 and its related issues.

City Property says that all those who were evicted irrational should visit their offices.#EFFOneWay #PravinMustGo #EFFTshwanePicket pic.twitter.com/NKHFfshZkg

— EFF Tshwane Region (@TshwaneEff) June 30, 2020

“From the small entrepreneur to the national retail tenant. We have been approached by some tenants for rent relief and where possible, we have assisted them. We have engaged our tenants on a case-by-case basis. ”

“We have complied with the regulations set by government and implemented the necessary protocols.”

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