Illegal squatters cannot keep houses

The Tshwane metro has stated that there is no approved policy in place to legalise illegal occupiers of rental units in Elandspoort.

This came after residents requested the metro to give them the houses they have been living in.

According to the metro spokesperson, Selby Bokaba, Elandspoort is a rental scheme consisting of 300 rental units which was transferred from the Gauteng province housing department to the metro in 2000.

“The rental properties concerned in Elandspoort are under the administration of the metro’s housing rental and institution administration section. For the past 14 years allocations of vacant units were made according to the existing policies and lease agreements entered into between the metro and tenants.”

Bokaba mentioned that the incidents of illegal occupation are a longstanding problem in Elandspoort. He said that according to the most recent occupancy survey by the housing department, there are 31 units with illegal occupants in the area.

“The contract- and rent-account holders moved out or passed away and the current illegal occupiers took chances by moving into the units. These cases have been referred to our legal services department,” he added.

Bokaba also said that the houses in Elandspoort cannot be given to the illegal occupants as houses are allocated in line with a waiting list.

When Rekord spoke to some of the occupants that are allegedly occupying the houses illegally they mentioned that there are people who are squatters but that they received the houses from the metro.

Bokaba also said the metro is requesting the occupants to come forward and provide them with information about those people so that they can investigate the matter.

It came to Rekord’s notice that there are people who allegedly lied about how many years they have been living in the houses in Elandspoort.

Bokabe stated that houses are allocated through the approved allocation criteria and the rental waiting list management system.

“Name transfer can be done where the contract holder passed away and/or no longer resides in the unit but other family members are still occupying the unit. After investigation and approval, a new lease agreement would be signed with a qualifying family member.”

The residents who are squatting in houses might probably be evacuated.