- A low-cost housing project in Bonteheuwel faces delays due to an illegal land occupier.
- The councillor is pursuing legal action after efforts to find a resolution failed.
- Nearby residents are reportedly using the situation to stall the project.
The councillor for Bonteheuwel has announced that legal action is necessary regarding the “Sally situation,” as an illegal land occupier is obstructing the progress of a low-cost housing development.
According to Angus McKenzie, the woman (Sally) has been living with her dogs on the land and has been offered other options but refuses to leave.
“For months, we have engaged Sally regarding her living conditions.
“We have offered her alternative accommodation, however, these have consistently been rejected. After receiving many complaints about safety, health hazards, and the general wellbeing of Sally and her dogs, I again visited Sally requesting her to move to avoid being possibly evicted.
‘Used as a tool’
“The biggest problem with the Sally situation is not that she did not want to vacate the place where she is living, but rather the fact that the three or four nearby residents are using her and her situation as a tool to delay the current housing project taking place – this won’t, however, happen and the biggest loser in all of this will in all likelihood be Sally who will possibly bear the brunt of a full-blown eviction.
“For various reasons the current situation is untenable as it is not safe for her, it is not safe for residents making use of the walkway. It is dirty and has a horrible smell. In addition to this, the number of dogs is not just a danger to the public but also to themselves,” says McKenzie.
McKenzie says Sally first lived in a car, then in a field and eventually in the walkway where she is now.
“The place where she currently is is supposed to be cleared for a road to be built. Because she refused to move, the contractors have cordoned off a piece of land so that they can proceed. Now the walkway for residents is narrower and they are up in arms. On the other hand, residents must walk through dog poo early in the morning. There have also been complaints about unsavoury characters hanging out there,” says McKenzie.
He believes it is other people influencing her not to move.
“I can confirm that due to her being used by others as their pawn, she remains steadfast in not leaving. This leaves us no other option but to follow the legal route of an eviction order which has commenced. This remedy is there for everyone’s greater good, like residents making use of the walkway, the continuation of the housing project and the wellbeing of Sally and her dogs,” he says.
Daughter speaks
When McKenzie posted about the situation on Facebook, a person claiming to be Sally’s daughter commented.
“That is my mother, and I understand why she doesn’t want to leave. Before this whole housing business no one ever offered help. Now all of a sudden, it’s a problem with her living there. No one speaks about how she walks people to take a taxi to work to ensure they are safe.
“No one speaks about how many times she has been gun pointed for the little that she has, where was everyone when she needed that little bit of help? Nobody cared to ask her why she is on the street, but the biggest concern is her living conditions,” wrote Leigh Roman.
McKenzie says he contacted Roman and is glad that she is willing to assist in getting her mother off the street and getting the help she needs.
“I don’t want people making wild statements about the mother or the daughter, because nobody knows the circumstances. We want the best outcome for everyone,” says McKenzie.
