Ekurhuleni metro allegedly evicts widow from flat

The 57-year-old woman, Cecilia (not her real name), requested to stay in the municipal flats, located in Benoni South, after her husband had died in June last year, Benoni City Times reported.

She was asked to leave the flat, as the block is designated for people over the age of 60.

“The complainant was issued with a notice to vacate on July 8 2014, with a notice period from August 1 to 31, which she failed to adhere to,” Ekurhuleni Metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said.

Nella (also not her real name), a friend of Cecilia, said: “Her electricity was switched off to try to make her leave, but she had nowhere to go, and she continued to pay her rent.”

“For eight months she lived there without electricity but continued to pay her rent until I advised her not to,” the friend said.

EMM said Cecilia did not continue to pay the rent for the flat after September 2014.

“The records held at EMM’s finance department indicate that [Cecilia] had stopped paying for rentals and services after her spouse passed on,” Gadebe said.

“The last payment was on September 5, 2014.”

Nella said she and Cecilia went to various departments in an attempt to resolve the matter but were told by all that Cecilia was too young to occupy the flat.

Cecilia vacated the flat in May after being threatened with legal action by EMM.

“She received notice to vacate, which she failed to adhere to, which resulted in the disconnection of the electricity and the matter being handed over to the corporate and legal department for legal action,” Gadebe said.

“The policy makes provision for citizens aged 60 years and above to stay at the Pauline Davis Court.

“The undertaking was signed on August 12, 2011, which clearly indicated that both (Cecilia and her husband) were fully aware of her being under the age of 60 years, as she was 53 years old.”

Ward 73 councillor Samuel Ngobese said the woman approached him regarding the situation, but as she was under 60, she was required by law to move out of the block, and he could not help her.

– Caxton News Service