Housing department responds to interdict

989 08.11.2012 Sipho Dlamini, scramble through on what used to be his house in Lenasia. Dlamini and other residents lost their belonging as the Department of housing officials accompanied by members of the police demolished houses that were build on illegal land in Lenasia, south of Gauteng. Picture: Itumeleng English

989 08.11.2012 Sipho Dlamini, scramble through on what used to be his house in Lenasia. Dlamini and other residents lost their belonging as the Department of housing officials accompanied by members of the police demolished houses that were build on illegal land in Lenasia, south of Gauteng. Picture: Itumeleng English

Published Nov 13, 2012

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Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Housing will argue in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday against an urgent interdict preventing it from demolishing illegally erected houses in Lenasia.

The South African Human Rights Commission filed an application on Monday for an urgent interdict preventing the demolition.

The Housing Department began destroying the houses on Thursday and Friday. It said the land they were built on was meant for government housing.

About 50 houses had been destroyed so far and another 113 had yet to be demolished.

The department said it was acting in line with the law.

On Monday, residents blockaded a road leading into Lenasia with rocks and burning tyres, in protest against the demolitions. They later cleared the road.

The demolitions have been widely condemned. - Sapa

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