The Thulamela Municipality demolition saga on 17 April, which left more than 100 homeowners displaced after their houses were flattened by bulldozers over a disputed piece of land, took a dramatic turn when the court ordered the municipality to provide alternative accommodation.
The decision was handed down by the Thohoyandou High Court, sitting in Tshilamba, on Friday, 24 April, marking a significant first-round victory for the affected families.
The displaced residents, organised under the banner of Community Defenders and led by activist Hulisani Mani of the Economic Liberators Forum of South Africa (ELFSA), had earlier marched to the Thulamela municipal headquarters in Thohoyandou. During the protest, they handed over a memorandum and staged a sit-in, demanding, among other things, immediate accommodation.
In court, the residents were represented pro bono by well-known attorney Terrence Maluleke of Maluleke T and Associates. The judgment was welcomed with relief by the affected families.
Speaking after the ruling, Mani, also president of ELFSA, said the outcome vindicated their struggle.
“The issue of accommodating displaced families topped the list of our demands to the municipality. We were disappointed when they said they would only respond after 14 days. The court has now confirmed that our case is genuine, and this gives us hope in our fight against what we believe is an unjust action by the municipality,” he said.
Maluleke confirmed that 14 families had been identified as being in urgent need of alternative accommodation, which the municipality has been ordered to provide by 28 April.
“We will thereafter turn our attention to the remaining affected residents. Two weeks ago, we obtained an interdict halting the demolitions, and we are now proceeding with further legal steps to prevent any future demolitions,” he said.
When approached for comment, Thulamela municipal spokesperson Ndwamato Tshiila said on Wednesday that the municipality was not yet in a position to respond.
“The matter still needs to go through internal processes. Council has to sit and consider the judgment, which has not yet happened. Issues relating to warning letters are handled by the sheriff, and I do not have copies at this stage,” he said.
The case continues to unfold as more affected residents await relief and clarity on their future.