Occupants of 18 houses on the property of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Hartbeespoort are facing eviction after the department applied for an eviction order from the Pretoria High Court.

The DWS housing village in Hartbeespoort.

According to reports, the occupants of the houses, intended for DWS employees, received eviction notices in January stating that they were occupying them illegally.
DWS approached the North West High Court in Mahikeng for an eviction order but withdrew the application from this court to take it to the High Court in Pretoria due to jurisdiction.
According to DWS spokesperson Wisane Mavasa, the housing is intended for DWS employees in Hartbeespoort. “The occupants of the 18 dwellings in question are not employees of the department. It is important to note that the allocation of accommodation is on a demand-and-supply basis. The department is required to ensure that where there is accommodation available, it is allocated to those who are legitimately deserving in accordance with the Housing Policies (Guidelines) and criteria set by the Housing Committee of the department. An employee who has been allocated accommodation is required by the policy, which is part of the employment contract, to vacate within three months upon resignation, retirement or in case of death, anyone in occupation at their behest,” Mavasa said.
“The eviction application has now been lodged at Pretoria High Court for an order to evict the occupiers, and for Madibeng Local Municipality to file a report in terms of sections 4(7) of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998, (PIE Act) on whether land has been made available or can reasonably be made available by the municipality for the relocation of the occupiers. Once an order is granted by the Court, the Department will comply with the court order.”
She said the department is awaiting a return of service from the sheriff’s office, as all occupiers had to be reserved, given the court’s jurisdictional requirements. “Once we receive a return of service from the Sheriff, we will have the matter set down in Pretoria High Court.”