They say they make sure the law is upheld, while the City of Johannesburg has failed to provide alternative accommodation for evicted people
Speaker for the City of Johannesburg Colleen Makhubele, as well as others, have blamed non-government organisations that fight evictions for the disastrous fire in the city centre on Thursday morning that left over 70 people dead.
Following the fire on Thursday morning in a building on the corner of Albert and Delvers streets in the centre of Johannesburg, civil society organisations have been criticised for defending unlawful occupiers against illegal evictions from buildings in the inner city. The burnt building has put the spotlight on the housing crisis in Johannesburg's inner city, and its unsafe, overcrowded buildings.
Makhubele referenced a recent incident where Mayco Member of Transport Kenny Kunene, in his capacity as acting mayor, received backlash for his attempt to evict people from unlawfully occupied and unsafe buildings in the inner city. Section 26 of South Africa's Constitution says that everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing and it is the government's responsibility to ensure that this right is realised. Section 26 also protects unlawful occupants against arbitrary evictions and demolition of property. It states that no evictions and demolitions may take place without a court order.
Dyantyi said because of the City's failure to provide alternative accommodation, SERI currently has 28 eviction matters pending in court.
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