The families, most of them black, have been engaged in a lengthy squabble with landlords and rental agents over the considerable difference between rentals charged and the Rent Board determination for their flats, managed by Hillcrest Properties, in Joubert Park.
A representative of the anti Group Areas organisation Actstop said some of those evicted had paid their arrears and at least one family forced out of its flat had only moved in this month.
Moreover, he said,those tenants who owed money had been prepared to settle their debts. If landlords continued to evict tenants unfairly, said the representative, Actstop would mobilise its city-centre membership, which involves 35 flat blocks.
* About 1 000 squatters were forced to demolish their shanties at MacDonald Farm, Soweto on Wednesday and move to a West Rand settlement.
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.
