July 14, 2005
By Tammy O'Reilly
ILLEGAL occupants have been evicted from yet another derelict building in Johannesburg's inner city.
More than 700 people occupying the 16-storey Bree Chambers on Bree Street were removed on Thursday morning, 14 July after ignoring notices issued more than a month ago to vacate the premises.
Although designed to accommodate offices, the building was converted into makeshift rooms and used for residential accommodation.
"The conditions inside this building are the same as most other buildings in the inner city that have been illegally occupied," said Roopa Singh, Region 8's communication officer.
"If you go inside you will see that the fire escape is completely blocked off and the water in there is knee high. The conditions are just terrible and it poses a threat to the occupants."
She added that fires in the inner city were increasing and should one break out in this building, there would be chaos because of the blocked fire escapes, broken lifts and absence of fire extinguishers.
"Almost 800 people are living in a building that was meant for office use, and so there are not even enough toilets or ablution facilities."
As a result, the building's sewer infrastructure has collapsed and raw sewerage flows on to the street. It is also infested with rodents, has blocked drains and toilets and has no waste management system.
The Inner City Task Force, or the Red Ants as they are commonly known, removed goods and escorted people out the building.
Among those removed was 75-year-old Gertrude Chiliza, who shared a room with her daughter. Lying among her battered belongings, she said she "didn't understand what was happening".
The City of Johannesburg arranged for the women to be taken to the Casamia Old Age Home in Berea. Although she may have a warm bed to sleep in for a while, her daughter Maureen can only be accommodated at the home for the night.
"I don't know what to do," said Maureen Chiliza. "We want our money back. I am paying R500 rent every month for the room, and I also paid a R1 000 deposit."
Lavigne Sibanda paid a monthly rent of R690 and an initial deposit of R800. "I used to pay my rent every month to the caretaker. We have been looking for him for the past week but he has just disappeared."
Singh confirmed that tenants were paying a rental, possibly to an unscrupulous slumlord, but not to the rightful owner of the building.
She added that the building would be guarded to prevent reoccupation.
The evictions are part of the City's Inner City Regeneration Project, which aims to revive the city centre and create a clean and safe district.
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