There’s an uproar regarding the imminent eviction of tenants of Bosmanhuis in Silverton by City of Tshwane Municipality.
The tenants are of the opinion that the looming eviction is unjustified as the building structures there are still in good condition and only need repairs here and there; that there is no need for them to be evicted from their dwellings.
“The City of Tshwane Municipality is evicting the residents of Bosmanshuis under the false pretext that the building structures there are not safe but the sad part is most of the residents there have been staying in those premises since time immemorial and don’t have an alternative place to stay,” said Patriotic Alliance member and community activist Felicia April.
“All that is needed there is to repair water pipes because they are old,” she enthused.
Now regarding this assertion by April, the City of Tshwane responded as follows:
“The contravention notices received oblige the City of Tshwane to act and do what is necessary for the safety of the tenants and the contravention notice is in terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977.”
According to the City of Tshwane, the contravention notice states that the building is dilapidated or in a state of of disrepair or shows signs thereof.
“Bosmanhuis electrical boxes are placed in the underground of the building, which is dangerous during rainy days because water gets stuck there and takes days to dry up so as to allow electricians to go down under and restore it,” read the City of Tshwane statement.
Furthermore, the statement read as follows:
“The water and sewer infrastructure is also underground and is a major contributor to the deteriorating state of the building.”
Residents of Bosmanhuis also complained that it was unfair that they as ordinary folks, sone of whom are unemployed, are being kicked out of the building while tenants who are well-off, drive fancy cars and in some cases work for the City of Tshwane are moving into the selfsame Bosmanshuis building.
To this assertion the City of Tshwane responded as follows:
“All the tenants that are residing at the Bosmanshuis premises will have to move out so that the issue of non-compliance can be addressed as the building is currently not safe to accommodate them.”
“The City will be assisting the elderly who have given consent to move to the Self Sufficient Elderly accommodation structures.
According to MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka, those who don’t fall under the category of the elderly will have to seek alternative places of accommodation on their own, even when they happen to be unemployed.
All tenants of Bosmanhuis bare expected to leave the premises in December.
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