“This shutdown is not to combat the corona. It means the virus is those people who live in shacks. We are the virus because when we were observing the shutdown which says we must not go out but stay at home our homes get illegally demolished.”
These were the words of a bitter pensioner from Lawley Extension 2, South of Joburg, whose seven-room house was demolished by notorious Red Ants security firm on Thursday.
Mavis Ngcobo’s is one of several families who were left traumatised after their properties were destroyed by the City of Joburg. Ngcobo said when the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), SAPS and the Red Ants arrived at her house they told her to “step aside” as they have been ordered to demolish all illegal structures which have not yet been completed as well as those which were vacant.
The 62-year-old pensioner said she pleaded with them not to destroy her house as she was waiting for the lockdown to end so that she could buy the windows to complete her mansion. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as she was instructed to stay in her shack.
“I tried everything, begging them not to demolish my house which I have built using my entire savings.
“I spent R150000 to build it. I could not buy the windows because of the shutdown, that is why my house was demolished.
“I hadn’t bought the windows when Ramaphosa (President Cyril) announced the shutdown. I obeyed the law and stayed home.”
Ngcobo said in order for her to get a stand she contributed “something” to the community leaders and she was told that the land belonged to the community.
She said she depends on social grants and part-time jobs to survive and therefore won’t be able to rebuild the structure again.
Asked why she built such a big house in an area which has not yet been legally demarcated and without services like electricity, roads and running water, Ngcobo said: “We have been waiting to be allocated RDP houses since 1996. I have a form C here with me and I go to housing (City of Joburg office) often but nothing comes up. I was staying in a bachelor flat with seven people in town and paying rent of R4800.
“I came here to find refuge because we were told this was government land and we did not know it will turn out to be like this because the government had said it can’t build houses for everyone so people must build for themselves.”
Ngcobo bemoaned the Covid-19 nationwide lockdown: “This shutdown is not to combat their corona (virus). It means the virus are those people who live in shacks. We are the virus because when we were observing the shutdown which says we must not go out but stay at home the government comes to destroy our houses.
Last month’s directive, issued by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola as part of the Disaster Management Act, put a moratorium on evictions during the lockdown.
South African Local Government Association (Salga) spokesperson Sivuyile Mbambato said he cannot comment on individual municipalities.
A query should be logged with Salga for it to investigate.
Gauteng Department for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson Castro Ngobese had not responded before publication after he asked to have questions sent to him via SMS as he was busy at an event in Alexandra township.