People renting flats in Roodepoort can breathe a sigh of relief as the City of Johannesburg’s social housing company, Joshco, has temporarily suspended evictions in the area.
Joshco met with Tshedzani tenants who were finding it difficult to pay their monthly rent and non-paying people have been given until early September to make alternative payment arrangements.
Affected tenants recently took to the streets after they were issued with eviction notices.
Protesters said they have been unable to pay rent because many lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
“We agreed to suspend the eviction process on condition that tenants that have lost their jobs or income submit their names to our offices by 11 September 2022 to prove their claim,” said Joscho acting CEO Sello Mothotoana.
Mothotoana encouraged affected tenants to make use of the housing company’s outreach programme, which looks into issues of lease agreements and offers guidelines on what tenants can do should they default on their rental payment.
“Joshco will allow unemployed tenants the opportunity to submit their names for further intervention. Issued eviction notices give an allowance period of six months for tenants to engage with Joshco or prepare for voluntary eviction,” he said.
Tshedzani community leaders said they were pleased with the latest developments but called for a long-term solution.
The group still maintains that a number of tenants were offered lease agreements that suggest that they will take full ownership of their units after four years of consistent payment.
“We appreciate that Joshco has responded to our concerns but we are not entirely happy with their response. They have stopped evictions for now but they are not saying anything about lease agreements that clearly state that we will own these flats after four years of uninterrupted payment.
“Four years have passed and this means we are not supposed to be paying rent anymore,” said tenant Cynthia Bothmann.
Joshco maintains it does not issue rent-to-own lease agreements.
The company said anyone with a lease agreement that proves otherwise must come forward so the matter can be fully investigated.
City of Johannesburg MMC for human settlements Mlungisi Mabaso is closely monitoring all developments in Tshedzani flats.
“I am aware of the issues on the ground. I encourage tenants to comply with their lease contracts and pay what is due to our sister entity. Social housing cannot be treated as an RDP,” said Mabaso.
nzimandeb@sowetan.co.za
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