The City of Johannesburg was on Thursday accused of still refusing to comply with a Constitutional Court order that it must provide alternative housing for people being evicted from private property.
The Socio-Economic Rights Institute has accused the City of telling the court that the city’s registration process for people needing accommodation has broken down.
The institute’s attorney Osmond Mngomezulu said the Constitutional Court ruled clearly in the Blue Moonlight case the city must provide the evictees with accommodation.
He said now the city could be in contempt of court, “For the city to want to take that decision as to who would get alternative accommodation is against the judgment of the constitutional court.”
The city said it will only be able to respond to these claims late on Friday.
The Blue Moonlight matter concerned the fate of 86 people who due to their circumstances unlawfully occupy a property called Saratoga Avenue in Berea, in central Johannesburg.
The property comprises an old and dilapidated commercial premises with office space, a factory building and garages.
The owner of the property, Blue Moonlight Properties, argued that the obligation providing housing for these people lay with the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality if they are evicted.
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