Illegal squatters make life difficult for home owners

Sine Thwala

THE ISSUE of illegally occupying houses in Lakeside (Bhekuzulu 6B) seems to be far from being resolved after so many years.

Cllr Lawrence Dube, of Ward 22, said that he feels that he has inherited this unfortunate situation.

“Two weeks ago, a person who was occupying one of these houses by right, as they had a title deed, was victimised. This came as a great shock considering the fact that this person had a title deed with them clearly stating that this was indeed their house. We have now resorted to informing the police to arrest anyone who tries to inflict violence in this manner,” said Cllr Dube.

The issue of the Lakeside houses started in 2007 just as the houses were finished. It is unclear how the community members, without title deeds, got the information that they could move into the houses but the matter has since been in and out of court with some of these people spending nights behind bars after violence broke out.

“I do not think that things should even get to the point where people resort to violence. If I know that I am illegally occupying a house that is not mine and the rightful owner approaches me and produces the necessary documents proving that the house is indeed theirs, why should I become violent? It is their house after all,” said Cllr Dube.

He went on to say that, besides the occasional bickering every now and again, things were no longer as hectic as they used to be in Bhekuzulu 6B.

Cllr Dube has brought the matter forward to council and hopes that they will come up with a speedy resolution.