The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) has demolished six more houses built illegally on council land in Soweto.
The demolitions have left scores of would-be homeowners counting their losses.
The six houses, mostly built up to roof level in Power Park near Chris Hani-Baragwanath Academic Hospital, were demolished yesterday in what the owners called a “harsh act” by the City of Johannesburg.
The JPC has already flattened dozens of houses and other structures built illegally on council land, and has promised that more would be razed, including a mosque in Lenasia.
Some 70 families were ordered to stop construction on the sites, allegedly bought from developer Moses Nkosi, after the property company obtained a court interdict, saying the land had been invaded.
Nkosi was charged in 2008 with selling municipal land in Power Park, but was acquitted last year of 56 counts of fraud and 56 of theft.
Nkosi told the court he had been a facilitator. The court found that because some of the residents’ plans had been approved by the council, the accused had believed the sale was legal.
Having spent thousands putting up structures, residents formed the Power Park Residents’ Committee so that they could engage the JPC.
Committee member Mondli Ndlovu said they felt betrayed by the JPC, which went on to seek demolition orders while discussions were in progress.
“It seemed that for them to engage with us was just a delaying tactic while they sought legal intervention. People are very disappointed in the system which is supposed to protect us but is now destroying us,” he said.
“We’ve tried all we can to challenge this, but who are we to fight the system? Families have watched helplessly as their dream houses went down, marriages have broken (up) and families have incurred huge debt, but it means nothing to our government,” Ndlovu added.
JPC spokesman Brian Mahlangu urged potential buyers to verify the ownership of any land before building on it. He said it was the JPC’s duty to look after council property, including vacant land.
Announcing its intentions to evict illegal occupants and demolish illegal structures on council-owned land in Lenasia last week, the JPC said: “The proper processes for occupying and building on city-owned land have not been followed.
“We want to send a strong message to the illegal occupiers of, and builders on, city-owned land that we will not tolerate illegal actions that hinder the development of Joburg.”