Durban — Flood victims who were occupying an empty Transnet building known as Montclair Lodge have been evicted.
This comes after the residents, who were staying at Tehuis, were taken by Umsinsi WokuZimilela The Native Movement (Umsinsi) to occupy Montclair Lodge illegally.
The movement has been fighting for flood victims placed in shelters and community halls to be moved into empty buildings in Durban, since these were currently unoccupied.
Umsinsi spokesperson Gugu Kheswa said they were told about a letter of eviction from the court, and they were yet to get an update as to what was going to happen to the residents. Kheswa said what the officials did was like “kicking people while they were down already”.
“We are working on getting people places with dignity so that they can also feel like people. They did not put themselves in the conditions that they are faced with currently. “We are doing our best to help them… it is just unfortunate that officials are nowhere to be found throughout this whole process.”
Kheswa said the conditions were not conducive for anyone to live under, especially the children.
However, councillor Gavin Hegter said the issue could have been avoided had the municipality taken the issue seriously.
He said the law had to be involved at some point.
“The intention was to remove the people on Sunday. In terms of the law, it would need to be done within 24 hours after occupation. Unfortunately, this was not possible because all the POP (public order police) from the SAPS and metro police were deployed to the ANC provincial conference. Transnet will now need to apply for an eviction order,” he said.
Tholani Kunene, who lost her home and is at the community hall with her five children and husband, said she had started experiencing peace after being moved to Montclair Lodge two weeks ago.
She explained how unhygienic and unsafe the camps were, especially if one has children. She said they bath in the same place, and cook, while also having a sewage problem, as the waste enters the place where they sleep.
“We found a little sanity after being moved; one could even sleep peacefully, but now we are back to square one.
“The way we were evicted did not make sense because we were given three hours to pack all our stuff. That was not enough time, yet they forcefully evicted us from the premises,” said Kunene.
She added that some people had lost their belongings, including IDs, laptops and cellphones, because of how they were evicted.
Nomvula Nzama, 18, a matric pupil at eNaleni High School in uMlazi, said the constant moving was affecting her a lot, as she was falling behind at school.
Nzama said studying while staying at Tehuis was difficult since the residents sometimes only went to sleep very late, and made a noise until late.
She said she tried going outside to study, but drunk men were usually outside, and she felt it was unsafe.
“I don’t think I am going to pass my matric under such circumstances. I am even sceptical about applying at universities, as I can see that I will be wasting my time.
“I can't believe that I am going to have to start afresh from Grade 11 after the hectic year we faced,” said Nzama.
She said the whole experience was affecting her mental health.
“I get traumatised when it is raining, and it makes me feel like I might go through everything once more.”
eThekwini deputy mayor Philani Mavundla said the order issued by the court has not pronounced that people should be evicted.
“Our lawyers are trying to find a way to solve this issue. Yes, I will stand with them until they are accommodated,” Mavundla said.
Daily News