People unlawfully occupied the Nellmapius Heatherly flats in March 2019, while it was still being built by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. Now gang members are demanding money from the occupiers. Photo supplied
By Silver Sibiya
People who have been unlawfully occupying government-owned flats in Mamelodi East, Tshwane, say they are being terrorised by a gang.
The group of residents had unlawfully occupied the incomplete Nellmapius Heatherly flats in March 2019, while it was still being built by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.
Most of the occupiers were backyarders and shack tenants in Mamelodi.
Residents say the gang members are forcefully removing tenants who refuse to pay them R500 per month, and selling the apartments for R20,000.
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements plans to pursue an eviction order against the occupiers so that it can complete the construction of the flats and hand them over to the rightful beneficiaries.
About 500 residents in three blocks of government-owned flats in Extension 22 in Mamelodi East, Tshwane say they are living in fear after gang members hijacked the buildings. They are forcing the residents to pay them money.
The group of residents had unlawfully occupied the incomplete Nellmapius Heatherly flats in March 2019, while it was still being built by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. Most of the occupiers were backyarders and shack tenants in Mamelodi.
The department first approached the Pretoria High Court to evict the occupiers from the apartments in 2019. They group was then evicted. But the flats were unlawfully occupied again. Now the department says it plans to return to court in 2024 to evict the current occupiers.
But in October 2023, gang members began targeting and threatening occupants who were not from Gauteng. And since early January this year, residents say, gangsters have been violent towards everyone living in the buildings.
Kgopelo Mathibela Ngwatoane said they were living in peace until thugs started demanding money. He said the situation escalated last week when they began forcefully removing people and “selling” the apartments if people could not pay them.
“They selected themselves as executives and extorted money from the residents. At first they demanded R150 a month per unit, but now it’s R500. They say it’s for security and to clean the yard,” he said.
He said the extortionists had collected about R295,000 from the three blocks, promising to build a security wall. But they never did build it.
“Last week they knocked on my door and demanded R7,000. I refused to pay and told them that I spent my money along with other residents to install water and electricity,” he said.
Ngwatoane said he went to the police station to obtain a protection order against the gang leader on 3 January.
He said the gang threatened to kill him in front of the police and that’s when he realised how much danger they were in. “I even went to give this evidence to the magistrate and the court date is set for 19 March 2024.”
He said he went to stay at the flats because he had nowhere to live and worries about being homeless if he is forced out.
Another resident, a 54-year-old unemployed woman, said she is refusing to pay the R500 monthly fee they are demanding from her.
“They want to remove me and my husband so they can sell our place. I will not be paying money and I’m not leaving,” she said.
She said that apartments occupied by people who refused to pay them were “sold” for R15,000 but this price has since gone up to R20,000.
“Those who arrive now buy a flat, knowing it’s illegal and they continue paying R500 for services every month. I’m unemployed and rely on the R350 grant. How can they expect me to pay R500? it’s impossible,” she said.
City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba referred all our questions about the situation to the provincial human settlements department.
Tahir Sema, department spokesperson, said they were still committed to completing the blocks of flats and handing them over to the rightful beneficiaries.
“The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements is aware of the situation at its Nellmapius Heatherly Flats are meant to be affordable rental housing accommodation.”
“Unfortunately, these units have been occupied for the second time by illegal invaders. The department obtained a court order and evicted illegal invaders but the units were invaded again,” he said.
Sema said that the department will continue to pursue the eviction case against the occupiers in order to complete the flats.
“We encourage communities to report the illegal occupation of land and houses to local law enforcement. These unlawful acts delay much-needed development and the provision of services meant for communities.”
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo did not respond to our questions about the gang members hijacking the flats by the time of publication.
Published originally on GroundUp.
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