WATCH | Lesufi to human rights body: nothing to fear from evictions

Lesufi

Johannesburg – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has defended his tougher stance on evictions and hijacked buildings, stating that the province must act “mercilessly” against the rapid rise of informal settlements, with 400 new ones recorded in the past year.

He addressed questions on Tuesday in the provincial legislature, following his announcement last week that evictions would be used to curb the growth of these settlements.

Lesufi said informal settlements in the province face possible evictions and demolitions as part of the government’s broader effort to prevent land invasions and enforce stricter housing regulations.

But the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) warned that such actions risk displacing vulnerable families, exposing them to crime and trauma, and violating constitutional rights to dignity and adequate housing.

It stressed that evictions without a court order are illegal under Section 26(3) of the Constitution and the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act, which require judicial oversight and protection for vulnerable groups.

“It is likely to expose families to criminality, trauma and displacement and erodes the foundations of our constitutional democracy,” the commission said.

“The commission is concerned that children might be torn from their homes, [about] older people losing access to care and people with disabilities being left without support or shelter.

Lesufi assured that the SAHRC should have no concerns regarding his plans.

“Our approach has been very simple. We will do everything within the law. We have never propagated that we will do anything outside the law and we still maintain that,” Lesufi said on Tuesday.

“And I don’t want to be in a tussle with the South African Human Rights Commission. They play a very important role and I support the role that they play. But on this aspect, it would have been better for them to extend a communication to me if they have reservations because we don’t want to do anything outside the law.
“But I don’t want to think that the South African Human Rights Commission protect illegal things. They also have to adhere to the constitution of our country and, therefore, appreciate their guidance but I an assure you that indeed we are going ahead to remove illegal infrastructure. And the assumption by other institutions that we are doing this without following legal processes is misplaced.”

According to The Citizen, while critics called his eviction plans “populist” and questioned their timing, Lesufi insisted relocations would follow the law and remain humane, but warned illegal land invaders: “They will not receive flowers from us.”

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