Scores homeless after mining house eviction
Residents are left to make alternative plans for accommodation after their furniture and belongings were left on the streets.
Scores of people were left homeless in Venterspos after they were evicted in a move that was allegedly facilitated by a mining house.
This is the information gathered from residents who claim the mining house in question employed an agency to carry out the evictions last Tuesday, April 18.
Also read: Desperate for a roof over their heads
The houses in question are believed to be owned by the mining company and residents are allegedly occupying them illegally.
The West Rand District Municipality’s (WRDM) council speaker Bethuel Munyai visited the scene to witness the evictions in question.
“Our people which includes pregnant women and children were ambushed by an eviction agency claiming to represent a mining house. The community was intimidated and threatened during the process. As a result, a family house in the area was completely demolished, leaving a mother and her children homeless and stranded,” said Munyai
Also read: Evictions in rural areas ‘remain a problem’
He added that a total of 11 families were affected by this and they now have no alternative arrangements for shelter, as their homes were destroyed.
Their furniture and belongings were left on the streets
“As the council speaker, I decided to intervene to place those affected in respective places, and also an alternative accommodation for those whose houses were demolished was organised. We are currently in talks with the mining house that allegedly called for these evictions, and we are hoping to find a way forward regarding these houses under their ownership,” said Munyai.
The Herald will be closely following the story and its developments and will be engaging with the mining house in question, to get to the bottom of the evictions, which were allegedly commissioned by the company.
