SAHRC HALTS THE DEMOLITION OF HOUSES IN LENASIA
The South Gauteng High Court has on Monday responded positively to the urgent application by the South African Human Rights Commission to suspend demolitions until it had the opportunity to fully consult with the Community.
The court is also granting the Department an opportunity to respond to the Commissions application which will be heard on Tuesday the 13th November 2012.
The Commission launched an urgent court application against the Department of Housing in Gauteng following its decision to demolish houses in Lenasia late last week, sparking mass evictions in the area.
The Commission is happy that our intervention has at least stopped further demolitions for at least 24 hours.
This gives us time to consult with the residents to establish factual evidence that may be of assistance to all parties in this matter.
The Judge has also requested that the Commission do a census of the community to determine the number of houses demolished, those earmarked for demolition, and the number of people affected by this process.
We have dispatched our team to Lenasia to conduct the house count.
The Judge has set the matter down for Tuesday at 10h00.
Statement issued by Isaac Mangena, South African Human Rights Commission spokesperson, November 12 2012
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