Lawyers for Human Rights mobilise against Pretoria building demolitions

Former occupants of buildings demolished on Boom and Kgosi Mampuru streets in Pretoria are outraged, demanding compensation from the City of Tshwane for damages and loss of livelihood. 

The group, including informal traders, claims they were not properly consulted or notified before the demolition.

In a meeting on Tuesday with attorney Mametlwe Sebei from Lawyers for Human Rights, the group expressed their outrage and frustration. 

Sebei condemned the city's decision, calling it an "injustice and an act of violence" against the former occupants. 

"It cannot be right that the city's administration is throwing away the livelihoods of people who are trying to make an honest and decent living," he said.

He said many of those impacted are traders struggling to earn a living. 

He added that Lawyers for Human Rights intend to consult with affected residents and small business owners, with around 300 people already impacted by the demolition.

He announced plans to mobilise a campaign and take the matter to court.

"We are going to be fighting this. This is the first meeting, and we are trying to mobilise a campaign of the traders and many others," he said.

Julie Eccles from the Workers Socialist Party emphasised the need for clear demands, including reparation and provision of alternative space for traders. 

 “We must be clear about our demands and single-minded about them. There must be in my view some kind of reparation for that. You can’t just destroy people’s livelihood. They must provide a space for new traders to trade and it must be a convenient space," she said.

Remembrance Mokwena-Ngulele from the Unit for Street Homelessness at the University of Pretoria warned that the demolition could lead to homelessness.

“These are human livelihoods that have been destroyed and the next thing we find these human beings who were trying to create a future are back in the city streets in the form of homelessness,” she said.

Joseph Chocho, who ran a funeral parlour that was demolished, recounted the experience. 

"They gave us a seven-day notice to vacate, later extended by another seven days, but then suddenly demolished the buildings without further warning," he said.

The demolition controversy arises amid the city council's proposal for a multimillion-rand mixed-use development in the northern gateway precinct. 

The planned project aims to create a vibrant economic zone with affordable rentals and student accommodation. 

To make way for the development, 16 city-owned properties were scheduled for demolition. 

The properties, situated near the Pretoria National Zoological Gardens, were chosen for their proximity to the Pretoria CBD, making them prime for mixed-use residential development.

Kholofelo Morodi, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services, recently said that the proposed development was approved by the council after a public participation process with no objections received.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za