Skip to content
Mpumalanga Press

Mpumalanga Press

FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE

  • Various stages of load shedding for the week
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-04
  • Protect children from alcohol, drug abuse
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-04
  • Government pursues innovative ways of linking learning with earning
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Action expected against striking Eskom workers
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Proposed changes to school infrastructure regulations
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Winter rainfall boosts dam levels
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Odendaalsrus police station closed due to OHS non-compliance
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • SA calls for probe into migrant deaths
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Load shedding downgraded to stage four until 4pm
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • SA reports 399 new COVID-19 cases
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Changes to 2022 tax filing season
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • SACU calls for dialogue negotiation in Ukraine conflict
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Eastern Cape communities receive forestry plantations
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Work underway to finalise awarding of R17 billion SANRAL projects
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Load shedding ramps up to Stage 6 from 2pm
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Various stages of load shedding for the week
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-04
  • Protect children from alcohol, drug abuse
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-04
  • Government pursues innovative ways of linking learning with earning
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Action expected against striking Eskom workers
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Proposed changes to school infrastructure regulations
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Winter rainfall boosts dam levels
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Odendaalsrus police station closed due to OHS non-compliance
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • SA calls for probe into migrant deaths
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Load shedding downgraded to stage four until 4pm
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • SA reports 399 new COVID-19 cases
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • Changes to 2022 tax filing season
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-07-01
  • SACU calls for dialogue negotiation in Ukraine conflict
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Eastern Cape communities receive forestry plantations
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Work underway to finalise awarding of R17 billion SANRAL projects
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30
  • Load shedding ramps up to Stage 6 from 2pm
    Source: SAnews - South African News Published on 2022-06-30

  • Latest news
  • All News
    • National News
    • Local News
    • Business and Finance News
    • Crime News
    • Other News
  • Lifestyle
    • HealthHealth News
    • EntertainmentEntertainment News
  • Sport
  • About us
    • Staff Directory
  • Downloads
  • Contact
    • Your story
  • Terms & conditions
  • General news
  • Local

Eviction looms for families living in former panelbeaters’ building in Tshwane

The threat of eviction hangs over the heads of the 12 families living in what they refer to as “the MeatKing building” in Pretoria. Some have been there for many years. The City obtained an eviction order in 2018 and intends to apply it soon.
4 min read

Eviction looms for families living in former panelbeaters’ building in Tshwane

City plans to evict residents of MeatKing

By Mosima Rafapa

Reclaimer Raymond Serumula was one of the first people to erect a shack in the building. Photos: Mosima Rafapa

Years ago, the building on the corner of Hertzog Street and Steve Biko Road in Wonderboom, Pretoria, was a panel-beating workshop. Waste collectors used to sleep nearby to be there early to collect metal for recycling. Then the panel-beaters moved out and the recyclers moved in. Now they face eviction from the building, which belongs to the City of Tshwane.

The threat of eviction hangs over the heads of the 12 families living in what they refer to as “the MeatKing building” in Pretoria. Some have been there for many years. The City obtained an eviction order in 2018 and intends to apply it soon.

Raymond Serumela moved into the building, named after a shop across the road, five years ago. Originally from Mpumalanga, he came to Pretoria to look for work, and when he couldn’t find a job he started collecting waste for recycling, especially scrap metal from the panel-beating business. “On Thursdays, we used to sleep on top of cardboard boxes in the front of the building in order to book scrap material discarded from the cars. We knew that if we slept here, we’d be the first in line. I was staying at an informal settlement in Bosman so it was far to travel,” said Serumula.

When the panel-beaters moved out, he says, the building fell vacant and he moved in. “We then started living here. More people joined us,” said Serumula.

Some of the residents sleep on couches in the corridor. Others have built shacks.

Serumula’s partner, Simphiwe Shabangu, left her home in Soweto 14 years ago when she was 20 and lived in parks. She said she was tired of being harassed by Metro law enforcement and moved here. “It’s better here than living in public parks,” she said. The couple live with their baby in a two roomed shack, one of many erected inside the building.

“I look at my son and I can only say beautiful things about his future. Life is hard but I have to hope for the best for him,” says Shabangu.

Shabangu is unemployed and relies on social grants and her partner.

Most of the people living in the building used to live in parks. During the day they would hide their belongings and go to look for work or waste materials for recycling. When it rained, some slept on the veranda of the MeatKing building, and went back to the nearby park to wash in a stream.

Residents cook on makeshift braziers.

There is no water in the building, no toilet and no electricity. Residents use open fires to cook, imbawulas (makeshift brazier) and paraffin stoves. They use one toilet in a building opposite theirs and get their water from there as well.

Nico Ntjana started sleeping outside the building in 2017 because he could not afford to pay rent or travel. Next to him is Peter Baloyi from Limpopo. Both survive on piecemeal jobs.

Nico Ntjana is from Hammanskraal. He moved in 2020. Before that he slept outside on a makeshift bed at night and spent time at a park in Gezina where he cooked and washed in a stream.

“I sleep here because I’m in town looking for piecemeal jobs. I do general work in the suburbs of Villieria. I lost my job in 2016 so piecemeal jobs keep me busy. It’s expensive to travel from home. What I do is not stable. Some days I’m unable to find work. My wife understands that I have to do this,” he says.

Lesego Mmotlana runs a carpentry business and displays his items just outside the building. He used to work as a carpenter in Rustenburg and moved to Pretoria in 2017 and to MeatKing in 2021. “I also do general work so I’m able to pay R500 rent for a room in Mamelodi where I store my belongings,” says Mmotlana.

He has four children. “I’m doing this for them,” he says.

Carpenter Lesego Mmotlana displays his wares outside the building.

Abraham Mahlangu is from Mpumalanga and works as a security officer in Rosslyn. He lives in a one-room shack in MeatKing to avoid paying rent, and to be able to send money home to his wife and five children. “I used to pass this place when I came to look for work. When they offered me the job in August last year, I came back here to look for a place to sleep,” he says. Mahlangu recycles waste to earn extra money.

Many of the residents are waste pickers and collect materials for recycling.

Tshepo Matlala was one of the first to occupy space in the building. He says when he could not find work after looking for some time, he resorted to recycling waste for a living. He lives with his partner, Priscilla Mgidi, who helps him pick waste for recycling. “Public transport is expensive so this is the only option we have,” he says.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the City had signed a contract with a developer for the building, and was waiting for the sheriff to implement the court order.

Published originally on GroundUp .

© 2022 GroundUp. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Tags: evictions housing meatking mpumalanga tswane

Continue Reading

Previous: [KRIEL] Two dead, seven injured in taxi/bakkie collision
Next: Alleged tax fraudster remanded in custody for R28 million fraud

Related Stories

UWILE UMUTHI WOMTHUNZI OMNANDI UWILE UMUTHI WOMTHUNZI OMNANDI Umtloli ngu Nsizwa Mahlangu Ilanga: 05 Velabahlinze 2022, Isikhathi: 09:36. Ikoro yokuzithabisa ibetheke elingophiko nelingeqiwa yintwala ngokudlula ephasini kukamakekere kezokulingisa u-Cynthia Nkosi, obekaziwa ngo-Salaminah, emdlalweni womrhatjho othi Osemsamo Limphosa Enyango. Mbala lithe lisile, lasibekela. Laduma ladlula, kwahlwa emini. Ingorho le beyingakaphiwa kezokulingisa kwaphela, kodwana beyinebala tle. Athi ukumomotheka kuthi foco– kuvele iimfoco emihlathini kuleke nangesango lamathe phezu kwethotho lamazinywakhe amhlophe twa kuhle kwerhwaba. Baqinisile nabathi isitja esihle kasidleli. Ithando lakhe lokulingisa lathoma kusatofozela ngemva kwendlebe nefokotho isesemanzi tle. Ngitjho nanyana bewungamnikela yiphi indima emdlalweni, bekayilima bekayiphumisele. Kezamahlaya bekasibulala ngeensini siqethuke. Emidlalweni yemrhatjhweni bekasibiza ngamagagasi womoya ukuze sithamele bekasifumbathise umnambitho wekghono lakhe lokulingisa. Indlebe nayo ithi silulu kawuzali, letha godu. Sithe sisathamele isibandama esitjho kamnanjana ngemisebe esikhunjeni, wafika unokufa wamgola. Wanqopha kiboyisomkhulu saginya burele. Ilele ubuthongo besiphelani ingorhokazi. Ibika lomdlalo Osemsamo Limphosa Enyango lizokuhlala likeneneza eendlebeni zethu kodwana iphimbo lakhe likhambe amasolokohlo. Kwanga ummoyakhe ungalala ngokuthula. Sibonane kwelizako. Ndlelahle Nkosi, Dlamini Lomuhle. Oyibethileko akakayosi. Noyosileko akakayidli. Noyidlileko, udle umlandu.
2 min read
  • Entertainment
  • Local

UWILE UMUTHI WOMTHUNZI OMNANDI

Jul 5, 2022
Three alleged poachers caught in the act and rhino horns recovered Three alleged poachers caught in the act and rhino horns recovered
2 min read
  • Local

Three alleged poachers caught in the act and rhino horns recovered

Jul 5, 2022
Suspected robber fatally shot by tavern owner Suspected robber fatally shot by tavern owner
2 min read
  • Crime
  • Local

Suspected robber fatally shot by tavern owner

Jul 5, 2022

You may have missed

UWILE UMUTHI WOMTHUNZI OMNANDI UWILE UMUTHI WOMTHUNZI OMNANDI Umtloli ngu Nsizwa Mahlangu Ilanga: 05 Velabahlinze 2022, Isikhathi: 09:36. Ikoro yokuzithabisa ibetheke elingophiko nelingeqiwa yintwala ngokudlula ephasini kukamakekere kezokulingisa u-Cynthia Nkosi, obekaziwa ngo-Salaminah, emdlalweni womrhatjho othi Osemsamo Limphosa Enyango. Mbala lithe lisile, lasibekela. Laduma ladlula, kwahlwa emini. Ingorho le beyingakaphiwa kezokulingisa kwaphela, kodwana beyinebala tle. Athi ukumomotheka kuthi foco– kuvele iimfoco emihlathini kuleke nangesango lamathe phezu kwethotho lamazinywakhe amhlophe twa kuhle kwerhwaba. Baqinisile nabathi isitja esihle kasidleli. Ithando lakhe lokulingisa lathoma kusatofozela ngemva kwendlebe nefokotho isesemanzi tle. Ngitjho nanyana bewungamnikela yiphi indima emdlalweni, bekayilima bekayiphumisele. Kezamahlaya bekasibulala ngeensini siqethuke. Emidlalweni yemrhatjhweni bekasibiza ngamagagasi womoya ukuze sithamele bekasifumbathise umnambitho wekghono lakhe lokulingisa. Indlebe nayo ithi silulu kawuzali, letha godu. Sithe sisathamele isibandama esitjho kamnanjana ngemisebe esikhunjeni, wafika unokufa wamgola. Wanqopha kiboyisomkhulu saginya burele. Ilele ubuthongo besiphelani ingorhokazi. Ibika lomdlalo Osemsamo Limphosa Enyango lizokuhlala likeneneza eendlebeni zethu kodwana iphimbo lakhe likhambe amasolokohlo. Kwanga ummoyakhe ungalala ngokuthula. Sibonane kwelizako. Ndlelahle Nkosi, Dlamini Lomuhle. Oyibethileko akakayosi. Noyosileko akakayidli. Noyidlileko, udle umlandu.
2 min read
  • Entertainment
  • Local

UWILE UMUTHI WOMTHUNZI OMNANDI

Jul 5, 2022
Three alleged poachers caught in the act and rhino horns recovered Three alleged poachers caught in the act and rhino horns recovered
2 min read
  • Local

Three alleged poachers caught in the act and rhino horns recovered

Jul 5, 2022
Suspected robber fatally shot by tavern owner Suspected robber fatally shot by tavern owner
2 min read
  • Crime
  • Local

Suspected robber fatally shot by tavern owner

Jul 5, 2022
Youngsters eke out a living carrying water for residents Youngsters eke out a living carrying water for residents
2 min read
  • Local

Youngsters eke out a living carrying water for residents

Jul 5, 2022
Copyright © Mpumalanga Press. All rights reserved. https://upgrader.co.za | DarkNews by AF themes.