Ekurhuleni Evictions Ignite Public Outcry

The City of Ekurhuleni finds itself at the centre of a storm after more than 500 low-cost housing residents were evicted from Pharoe Park flats in Germiston. The move, justified by Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza as a response to over R1 million in unpaid rent and service fees each month, has drawn sharp criticism from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

“Inhumane and Brutal,” Say MK Leaders

Sifiso Luthuli, MK party leader for the central south region, did not mince words. “We received calls from families who were thrown out and now have nowhere to stay,” he said. He emphasised that most affected are women and children, and promised ongoing support with food and temporary accommodation.

The MK party frames the evictions as a broader failure of government accountability. Luthuli pointed out that residents were initially promised the opportunity to purchase the flats after a few years, a commitment that never materialised.

Broken Promises and Lost Homes

A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of intimidation, described the trauma endured. Many families, living in the flats for over 16 years, had stopped paying rent when the city failed to deliver on its “rent-to-buy” promise. When residents applied for RDP housing in 2015, they were told they were ineligible due to already occupying the flats.

“We lost all our belongings, and my children are terrified,” she said. “They’re always carrying their school bags with clothes, thinking security officers might return.”

Documents obtained by The Citizen confirm that the lease agreements included a clause allowing residents to buy the flats after four years, underscoring the municipality’s unkept promises.

Eviction Challenge Delayed

Residents filed an urgent application to contest the evictions, but the hearing has been postponed to tomorrow. Meanwhile, the city has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

Mayor Xhakaza’s position is that the municipality cannot sustain losses exceeding R1 million monthly due to non-payment. Yet, the unfolding crisis raises questions about the city’s approach to social housing and the human cost of its policies.

As the situation continues to develop, residents and advocacy groups are calling for accountability and a humane resolution that prioritises families’ rights over revenue losses.

{Source: The Citizen}

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