Frustrations rise as Austerville residents sent to court
The recent protest was fuelled by a court interdict that was issued to four residents recently, which they claim are from the department of Human Settlements.
GROWING frustration over issues of housing and the alleged unrightful allocation of flats in Wentworth, saw the residents of Austerville take to the streets yet again on Wednesday, 28 October.
The recent protest was fuelled by a court interdict that was issued to four residents recently, which they claim are from the department of Human Settlements.
Speaking to the SUN, Celeste King, one of those issued with an interdict, said that the department has summoned them to the Durban High Court and given them an interdict to appear in court on Friday, 11 December. She explained that the reason for the interdict was due to their protest action, lack of compliance and slander against some members who work for the department.
This follows a previous protest where a group of residents blockaded Austerville Drive with rubbish that was set alight on Tuesday morning, 13 October.
They accused another resident of fraud and corruption following her occupancy of a vacant flat just days before. They also claimed that the family that had been living at the flat in question were taken to court and summoned out of their home. They further claimed that the woman, who has now taken occupancy of the flat, was not on the housing database nor was she homeless. 
Responding to the allegations made against her in the interdict, King said: “There is no truth to this. We feel that the department is oppressing us because we’re fighting for our right to adequate housing and speaking against corruption. We have minutes from the Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) ward 68 meetings stating things committee members and housing department members said they would follow-up on but still have not. There are certain families who should have been evicted, as stated in the minutes, but still haven’t. Some officials have allocated flats to their friends.
“We would never swear or insult the department’s field workers or any other officials as we have been accused of in the interdict. They’re just creating lies against us. Why did they only pick three of us from all the residents to send to court? One of the women who have been summoned was not even part of our previous protest action. This interdict is built on lies. This is upsetting us and that’s why we’re taking it to the streets” said King who suspects foul play in the legal action against herself and the group. 
Marjorie Gilbert, an elderly resident, said: “For too long we have been living in these flats that are condemned. I’ve been living in the same slump for 39 years with four of my children. Theses flats are overcrowded and are in awful condition. This is no way to live and it’s very unfair. The housing department must wake up and deal with corruption. They need to put a stop to this. We are tired of empty promises and the never-ending run around. No issues are being resolved,” she said.
In a previous article in the SUN, the media liaison officer for the office of the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mbulelo Baloyi, refuted claims that the property management has a waiting list or database for applicants seeking accommodation in Austerville.
He said prioritisation of the desperate applicants for the allocation of vacant units in all areas is done through the ward councillor who is closer to the ground and knows the needs of the community.
With regard to the court interdict, Baloyi said that the protests and rioting initially started when flat 69 G Austerville Drive became vacant in February. “The Department opened a case for illegal occupation (trespassing and damage to state property) at the Wentworth SAPS on 20 February. The flat was subsequently allocated to the most deserving applicant through a formal Housing Adjudication process and a High Court order was obtained for the eviction of the current applicant, which is currently in process.
“During the riots in February and March, the respective community members threatened and were abusive to departmental staff officials, using derogatory names on them, with continued threats of invasion of departmental properties. It is not true that the department is oppressing any individuals against their fight for their right to adequate housing. “As a result of the continued threats to safety, abuse of officials and continued threats of invasion of Departmentally owned properties, the Department has to obtain a court interdict which will ensure the safety of staff officials and to safe-guard vacant units,” he said.
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