Elderly woman left in the cold after eviction

Winter is upon us, this is a season to be warm and having a roof over your head is a necessity during this cold time. But it is not the case for Miss Catherine Thandekile Maseko (49) who was evicted from her home at Rietspruit.

Miss Catherine Thandekile Maseko has been living in her home at Rietspruit for over ten years when she got evicted on April 28.

On April 28 the woman together with her 27-year-old disabled son were shown the door by sheriffs from Kriel Magistrate Court accompanied by police holding an eviction letter that ordered them to leave the house immediately, stating they no longer have rights to reside in there anymore. With the help of the community she carried her belongings outside the house.
She alleges that she does not know why this happened as she had been residing in the house for more than ten years and has documents in her possession that proves that the property does indeed belong to her.

“My deceased husband worked for a mine in the area which got closed in 2001, the company then gave us the house. In 1999 I fought a similar battle at High Court but I won the case which to me proves I am the legal owner of the property. Hence I am confused as to why they are only kicking me out now as they know the house belongs to me,” said Maseko.

She further explains that it was inhuman in how they kicked her out.

“I was crying as I carried our belongings outside. My son and I had nowhere to go after the eviction. We were left in the cold. As it stands now the place we used to call home is no longer our home,” continued a teary Maseko.

Miss Catherine Thandekile Maseko’s furniture is placed outside after she was evicted on April 28 at her house at Rietspruit.

Mr Joseph Nzimande the community leader of Rietspruit said enough was enough. He was tired of seeing people being evicted out of their own homes with no concrete reason as to why it is happening.

“This is the third time this is happening to Miss Maseko over the many years she has been part of the community. In the year 2003 eight families were evicted and in 2006 another 12 people were evicted. We want to know on what grounds these people are evicted on,” said Nzimande.

Maseko is currently residing at Nelspruit with her children after they came to fetch her. A shack is what she calls home now.

Kriel SAPS did not respond by the time of going to press.

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