Three kids killed - Families ask where to now?
Lawyers representing the occupants of unsafe buildings in Doornfontein, have slammed City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba for failing to protect the Constitutional rights of the illegal occupiers.
The families demand answers over their future, in the aftermath of yesterday's fatal incident when a wall collapsed and killed three young children who were playing near the structure.
Hijacked buildings in the inner city of Johannesburg have become the home to the City's most vulnerable.
It is common cause that the people currently living in these buildings are illegally occupying these unsafe and crime ridden structures.
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Lawyers from the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) say they have asked Mayor Mashaba for temporary accommodation for the residents for the past eight months.
"Mr Mashaba yesterday was crying, he said himself that he's heart sore about the families who lost three children. How many times must he be heart sore before he takes action? How many times must someone die before he actually says the department of housing is going to roll out housing for the poor in the inner Johannesburg?" asked SERI's director of litigation, Nomzamo Zondo.
The City pointed the finger to inadequate resources.
The Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) and various cases in front of the Constitutional Court had put an obligation on local government to supply temporary accommodation.
"The City is well aware of its obligations as it's doing all it can to meet those obligations. But those things can only be provided within the reasonable resources that are available to the City."
Council approved the release of 13 hijacked buildings to the municipality for restoration.