DA Councillor Dave Dewes is at the centre of controversy again.
This time the remains of the temporarily defunct Ward 70 ANC branch has taken it upon themselves to be the heroes of some of Dewes’ tenants who according to them had been evicted illegally.
“It is no coincidence that the young man – who made a case of intimidation against Dewes – is a member of the very family he wants to evict,” says ex-Deputy Chairperson of the ANC branch, Rupert September, of the tenants from Shamrock Street.
Allegedly Dewes gave the family who rents a converted garage 30 days notice, which expired on 1 September. The tenants who believe they need three months notice refused to move. Dewes then brought a worker on the Sunday the family was supposed to leave and removed the door and some windows.
“I have done everything according to the rule. They are using laws pertaining to squatting to say they need three months notice whereas they have been paying tenants. Different laws apply then. I need to give them one calendar month’s notice. Yet I have not forcibly removed them. I also have informed them in advance that I’ll be renovating. Plus I have a new tenant who is about to move in,” says Dewes.
The Record did not want to trespass but could see that the yard was well kept. Furthermore Dewes claim there are three bathrooms, running hot water and various TVs in the house. His bond plus utilities furthermore surpasses the R17 000 mark and he claims that he hardly breaks even. He admits though that the house might need a coat of paint.
September disagrees. He now has acted on behalf of the family and taken the case to the Housing Tribunal who has issued a letter to Dewes saying he is in breach of rental regulations and that he should take the family back in.
“Dewes said that he has not evicted the family but removed the doors, windows and mess his worker left constitutes an eviction,” says September.
“This is a pathetic political ploy,” Dewes counter attacks.
Dewes will appear in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court again on 11 September to face the intimidation charge.
