SMALL business operators protested at Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) offices in Mthatha yesterday against “unlawful and irregular” evictions by the development agency.
Last month a group of Butterworth ECDC residential property tenants also protested on the sidelines of the state of the province address (Sopa) against ECDC evictions.
Supported by the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), the Mthatha small business operators, some who admit to being in rental arrears, said the ECDC had reneged on an agreement to sell them the business premises.
The Mthatha tenants claimed ECDC had backtracked on an offer of right of first refusal which had been agreed to in 2005.
They further claimed that ECDC had used “expired” eviction orders dated January 2012, which had been contested and invalidated, to evict them.
“We are protesting at the ECDC offices in Mthatha. We have ECDC correspondence in which they agreed to sell its buildings to the occupants.
“The occupants are willing to abide by that agreement but ECDC has done an about-turn. They are evicting us on the basis of court orders issued last year in January and February.
“We contested those orders and the evictions were stopped at the time. Now we are shocked to find that they have been re-stamped and used to evict occupants,” said Mlungisi Ndobeni.
In a letter seen by Daily Dispatch dated August 10 2005, ECDC agreed that it would sell properties to tenants in good standing or those who “undertake to settle their arrears by the transfer date of the property”.
The group wrote twice to the MEC for economic affairs Mcebisi Jonas on March 4 and February 20 this year, claiming harassment by the ECDC.
“ECDC is chasing out tenants one by one from the building causing their businesses to perform badly due to threats , harassment and embarrassment.
“Some of your officials chase tenants out without giving notice. Their aim is to do business through fronting by placing their family and friends there,” a letter written to MEC for economic development Jonas signed by Ndobeni said.
The evicted ECDC tenants said they were being kicked out because ECDC wanted to sell the office block to foreigners from other African countries, the Chinese and Pakistanis.
Speaking for the 24 tenants, Mlungisi Ndobeni said tenants were being treated like criminals and deliberately being humiliated by ECDC.
The Daily Dispatch has seen copies of a warrant of execution against a property document stamped by the sheriff of the magistrate’s court in January 2012 and stamped by the sheriff of the high court on January 14 this year.
ECDC had not responded to the Dispatch at the time of going to print. —
Businesses protest evictions by ECDC
Last month a group of Butterworth ECDC residential property tenants also protested on the sidelines of the state of the province address (Sopa) against ECDC evictions.
Supported by the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), the Mthatha small business operators, some who admit to being in rental arrears, said the ECDC had reneged on an agreement to sell them the business premises.
The Mthatha tenants claimed ECDC had backtracked on an offer of right of first refusal which had been agreed to in 2005.
They further claimed that ECDC had used “expired” eviction orders dated January 2012, which had been contested and invalidated, to evict them.
“We are protesting at the ECDC offices in Mthatha. We have ECDC correspondence in which they agreed to sell its buildings to the occupants.
“The occupants are willing to abide by that agreement but ECDC has done an about-turn. They are evicting us on the basis of court orders issued last year in January and February.
“We contested those orders and the evictions were stopped at the time. Now we are shocked to find that they have been re-stamped and used to evict occupants,” said Mlungisi Ndobeni.
In a letter seen by Daily Dispatch dated August 10 2005, ECDC agreed that it would sell properties to tenants in good standing or those who “undertake to settle their arrears by the transfer date of the property”.
The group wrote twice to the MEC for economic affairs Mcebisi Jonas on March 4 and February 20 this year, claiming harassment by the ECDC.
“ECDC is chasing out tenants one by one from the building causing their businesses to perform badly due to threats , harassment and embarrassment.
“Some of your officials chase tenants out without giving notice. Their aim is to do business through fronting by placing their family and friends there,” a letter written to MEC for economic development Jonas signed by Ndobeni said.
The evicted ECDC tenants said they were being kicked out because ECDC wanted to sell the office block to foreigners from other African countries, the Chinese and Pakistanis.
Speaking for the 24 tenants, Mlungisi Ndobeni said tenants were being treated like criminals and deliberately being humiliated by ECDC.
The Daily Dispatch has seen copies of a warrant of execution against a property document stamped by the sheriff of the magistrate’s court in January 2012 and stamped by the sheriff of the high court on January 14 this year.
ECDC had not responded to the Dispatch at the time of going to print. —
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