KNYSNA NEWS - A Knysna couple, Jurie and Marietjie Human, allegedly had their Lelieskloof home demolished by developers while they were still occupying the house in October this year. The traumatised couple claims that possessions were left on the street, and that part of the ceiling collapsed on Marietjie's head while she attempted to salvage some clothing from the doomed house.

Ever since the 5.5 hectares (Erf 7632 and Erf 215) in Knysna’s Lellieskloof were sold by the then Knysna Municipal Council in March 1998 for the paltry sum of R394 000 to Lelieskloof Development (now known as Bitline SA 111 cc), residents of houses erected on the land by the Provincial Administration, have been embroiled in a bitter and expensive battle to regain the homes they were allowed to purchase from the administration. The Knysna Council responsible for the sale of the land counted among its officials, members of the buyer, Lelieskloof Development/ Bitline, a fact that is of concern to residents.

On October 6 pensioners Jurie and his wife Marietjie Human, watched in horror and disbelief as Bitline members, Richard Sohn, Johan Roodt and their employees started demolishing their Lelieskloof home, while the couple was still desperately trying to salvage personal belongings from the home they own, having bought it in 2004 for R228 000.

"I still have sleepless nights about that day," says a visibly shaken Marietjie as she explains how strangers entered their home and started throwing their personal belongings onto the pavement, where unidentified opportunist thieves were openly stealing whatever they wanted before disappearing into the nearby thicket.

According to Jurie, the couple had not received an eviction notice until Bitline SA 111 cc arrived on that fateful day. "These people just came into our beautiful home and started throwing all our precious possession out into the street," he says.
Marietjie recalls, "I was trying to get my clothes out of the cupboard when a Bitline worker started breaking the roof and ceiling above me. The next thing, a large chunk of the ceiling fell onto my head. When I think of it, I still start shaking all over again."
This event, which has been described as despicable and inhuman, has left the couple traumatised and with several unanswered questions. "We have a very experienced legal representative looking into all legal aspects of this eviction," explains Jurie.

Roodt, of Bitline, offers a lengthy explanation of the legal validity of the eviction order and further states: "He (Jurie Human) still did not vacate the property and stated under oath in the earlier court proceedings, that he would only vacate the property if forced by the court to do so. We then obtained an eviction order and again asked him [via his attorneys to vacate in terms of the eviction order] and when we failed to get a response, we enforced the eviction order by asking the Knysna Sheriff of the Court to evict him. When the Sheriff arrived, Mr Human asked for an extension to vacate, which in the light of his inability to honour all previous agreements, was refused."

Roodt further explains that the Sheriff offered the Humans’ alternate accommodation and storage. "We left them to pack and to move, and the demolition was only started once they vacated the property. All the while they and their son were carting their belongings away, and at least one of them remained with their goods at all times. We deny that goods of their’s were stolen or that ceilings collapsed on Mrs Human. Just another desperate untruth," says Roodt.

Constable Chris Spies, Knysna SAPS Communication Official explains that "members of the Knysna Police accompanied the Sheriff of the Court to Lelieskloof, Knysna in an effort to ensure that an Order of the Court could be executed". He suggested that the Sheriff of the Court be contacted for further information and comment regarding the allegations that the Humans were not given any time to pack or move theit possessions. However, the Sheriff of the Court, who was present during this eviction, declined to comment on the incident.

The saga between the Human family, Bitline SA 111 cc, the municipality and several other affected parties is a very complicated, continuing battle.

The Knysna-Plett Herald endeavours to continue reporting on how this saga develops as legal intricacies and other facts are revealed.


Jurie and Marietjie Human's home prior to developers, Bitline SA 111cc, allegedly arriving unannounced with an eviction notice on October 6, and then proceeding to demolish the home.

ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN