The ANC claims 50 families were wrongfully evicted from their homes in Midrand on Tuesday.
 
African National Congress MP and Midrand ward councillor Dumisani Sithole alleged that a company, Directech, illegally ordered the 50 families off land belonging to them in Kya Sands, because a court order prevented them from being evicted.
 
However, Directech managing director Peter Erasmus on Tuesday denied that any houses were demolished or families evicted.
 
Sithole said that court order showed that the residents had until February 1 to live on Directech's property.
 
"The owners contravened the court order when they began demolishing the homes of the residents who were living on the land today."

Erasmus, however, said that Sithole's interpretation of the document was incorrect.
 
"The residents were advised in March last year that Directech would be developing the area.
 
"Directech obtained a court order in favour of Directech's development plans and the judge didn't want to prejudice our rights (to develop)".

Sithole denied Directech's claim that the court date of February 1 was for a trial date to obtain an eviction notice.
 
"The previous owner of the land did not divulge to Directech that informal settlers lived on the land they purchased," Sithole said.
 
Erasmus, however, said his legal documents proved they could remove the settlers from the land.
 
Erasmus said that while Sithole planned to lay a formal complaint against the company, plans to develop the area would continue.
 
Sapa
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge