STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, GOOD SECRETARY-GENERAL AND MEMBER OF THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT
OPPORTUNISTIC WESTERN CAPE MUNICPALITIES ACT OUT DARK FANTASIES UNDER COVER OF CORONAVIRUS
Lockdown regulation stopping municipalities from evicting people and demolishing homes ignored
2 May 2020
The Langeberg Local Municipality has taken a leaf out of the Cape Town City Council’s Khayelitsha playbook by demolishing a home in Ashbury, Montagu, and forcing the occupants to crowd in with neighbours.
These actions, together with the now aborted operation to rid Cape Town’s streets of homeless people and force them to live in marquees on an open field in Strandfontein, are totally counter-productive to the objectives of the lockdown and social distancing to slow the advance of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are also illegal in terms of the country’s lockdown regulations, which has outlawed evictions since 26 March.
Approximately two weeks ago the City of Cape Town was ordered to return confiscated building materials and allow residents to return to the Empolweni informal settlement in Khayelitsha, after destroying the homes of 49 families in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown.
But it appears that news of the judgement didn’t reach Montagu, where the home of the Mullers was demolished last Thursday – and their food and clothing was allegedly confiscated by people described by locals as “Red Ants”. It is unclear why this particular home was singled out for destruction.
It is cruel and irrational for municipalities to be rendering more people homeless while the President calls on the country to stay indoors.
To make matters worse, soon after the demolition, a vehicle belonging to a member of the Montagu Volunteers Fire and Rescue (MVF&R) was attacked. The member was working as part of a community volunteer network that is delivering thousands of meals to needy residents in the small town.
I have reported the Montagu case to the Western Cape Provincial Covid oversight committee and the Provincial Minister of Human Settlements for further investigation.
The national lockdown regulations apply to all municipalities equally, including those in the DA-led Western Cape.
Anyone able to assist the now-homeless Muller family may email our office at info@forgood.org.za or, if in Montagu, contact our local Ward 7 Chairperson, Mr Nicolin Crouwcamp.
Ends