Residents arrested for hindering murder case
TWO people were arrested outside Klawer Magistrate’s Court after angry residents were prevented from entering it to witness a suspect appearing for the murder of Hartvicht “Mannetjies” Ockhuis and the attempted murder of Howard Andrews.
Pent-up anger in the West Coast town of Klawer exploded at the weekend after a resident was shot dead by a man, and another wounded.
The suspect, aged 57, had fled the area before he was arrested.
Yesterday, police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed that the men, aged 17 and 36, were arrested for hindering the execution of police duties and possession of a dangerous weapon, respectively.
Community leader Monwabisi Sikhond said only the victims’ families were allowed to enter the magistrate’s court yesterday.
“The people became angry as we were not allowed to enter the court, but we didn’t know why the police stopped us. I don’t know if they feared that we would disrupt the court, but we had the right to know if he received bail or would remain in jail,” said Hondo. He said following the court proceedings, the Ockhuis family left without disclosing what had occurred. The community was also upset following Ockhuis’s murder as several properties believed to belong to the suspect’s family were set alight, said Sikhondo.
He said the community informed him that many of these properties were, in fact,
STEURHOF tenants facing eviction have laid fraud charges against two City housing officials after they allegedly misrepresented information about the tenants’ eminent eviction.
The two residents, who have taken action, are among eight families living in Council rental stock in Steurhof who have received eviction notices since 2014.
The charges were laid at Diep River police station by the two tenants, who asked to remain anonymous.
They say they were asked for proof that they had been residing in the houses for as long as they claimed.
The only proof they had was from neighbours, who could write affidavits confirming their cases.
But the officials rejected this, saying the City did not accept such.
One of the tenants said: They (officials) told me that affidavits are not valid, and that (Council) doesn’t accept them. It was my grandparents who were the initial tenants.”
The second tenant said an affidavit was her only way to prove she and her two children and two grandchildren had been living there for the past 12 years with her partner, who died last year and was the original tenant.
“When I went back last year to tell them that he had passed away, they said there is no record of me living there since 2005, and that I must have proof that I’m staying there since 2005, and that an affidavit is not valid, and that they don’t accept it,” she added.
Sub-sector Diep River Forum committee chairperson Alexis Serra said by allegedly informing tenants that affidavits were not accepted by the City, officials were misrepresenting the Council Housing Policy for Unlawful Occupation of Council Rental stock, because the document allows submission of affidavits.
The City said its tenancy management department was not aware of such charges against the officials.
“The City takes any allegations of fraud very seriously and residents are asked to please report this to our dedicated toll-free fraud hotline on 0800 32 31 30.”
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said cases of fraud misrepresentation were opened for investigation. No one has been arrested.