Pimville, Klipspruit, residents marched to the local municipal office on October 22.

They claim their homes and family houses were allegedly fraudulently taken from them, leaving them homeless, paying hefty rent and unable to access the homes they grew up in.

Community members, mainly elderly women, also went to the office to hand a memorandum to Human Settlements Deputy Director Pekane Moabi and Ward Clr Cambridge Kwapeng.

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The picket follows years of frustration from victims who sought help from the office as early as 2007. They have still not received help in reclaiming their homes, even with the necessary documents.

Elderly resident Mirriam Mantjie told the Urban News that she had been to the municipal office many times but had had no success.

“My parents bought the house for us, their children. We only had one half-brother, and the agreement was that should he get married, he would find a home for himself and his family.

“Years went by, my parents died, and my brother married. His wife moved into our family home, and my children and I were kicked out. I was forced to rent and pay R1 700 a month,” she said.

She said that when she went to the municipal office, she met Fatima Ngcamu and Cynthia Ntshangase, who told her the house was now registered under a different surname belonging to her half-brother and his wife. When she demanded answers, they brushed her off, telling her that was what the file reflected.

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A recent CoJ report stated that Ngcamu and Ntshangase appeared in court for fraud and corruption following a Hawks investigation into complaints that they had allegedly sold houses in the community.

Many victims said they also dealt with Ngcamu and Ntshangase and have not received help or regained their homes.

The memorandum raised issues such as staff conduct, access to municipal files and unresolved resident complaints.

Having received the memorandum, Moabi assured the community that it would be captured and all points investigated.

However, angry residents demanded that Ntshangase be removed from the office, as she is out on bail and still facing charges. Moabi explained that there are protocols to follow in that regard.

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Another emotional victim, Simphiwe Radebe, said, “I was evicted from my parents’ house in 2007. I remember the day clearly because it is close to my heart. My mother was out buying groceries when the police, sheriff and the new house owner arrived.

“They said the house had been sold by a man named Makhathini. I was forcefully thrown out of my parents’ house.”

He said that after finding his mother, they discovered their belongings had been thrown out of the yard. Despite attending court and being promised assistance, they are still homeless.

“What pains me is that we now live in an overcrowded house opposite the home we were kicked out of. I am now taking care of my mother, who is wheelchair-bound because of this. She is sick because she constantly speaks about her house,” said Radebe.

A response from Human Settlements is expected within 14 working days. The Urban News reached out to the department for comment, but had not received a response by the time of publication.