Johannesburg — The South African Human Rights Commission has kicked off a public hearing to investigate complaints of alleged illegal evictions by residents in some parts of Johannesburg.

The hearing on Wednesday and Thursday, regards complaints raised by residents of Kathorus (Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus), Ennerdale and Lawley in Gauteng.

It is meant to investigate the process and notification of eviction proceedings.

The procedures of auctioning houses after they have been repossessed including selling of repossessed houses at nominal amounts, is to be probed.

Selling houses to the sheriffs who carried out the evictions and refusing to allow the original owners to buy back their houses will also be investigated in the two-day hearing.

The Human Rights Commission will also investigate the role of banks and estate agents in selling occupied houses, including selling houses despite payment arrangements having being made by the owners.

Investigations will also encompass the conversion of tenure in municipal houses and the continuity of title for owners who left their houses as a result of the violence that ravaged in the Kathorus area in the 1980s.

In addition allegations of the inhumane treatment of evictees by members of the South African Police Service and the Sheriff's office will also be investigated.

Furthermore, the role of government and the Ministry of Housing in providing housing for people who have been evicted and whose houses have been repossessed, will also be investigated.

This hearing will create a framework for all role-players within the housing sector to evaluate and interrogate the issues pertaining to access the right to housing and the implementation thereof within the context of the complaints received.

The hearing will provide a public accountability mechanism and can serve as an educational opportunity to all who attend.

Although this public hearing is not a court of law, it is nevertheless a platform that contributes to the dialogue on the right of access to housing.

The hearing is being conducted in terms of the rules of the procedure promulgated in terms of section 9 (6) of the Human Rights Act, in terms of which the commission called for submissions from the public and interested parties including institutions, organisations.

It is envisaged that the findings and recommendations made by this public hearing will address problems affecting mostly the underprivileged and marginalised members of these communities.

This process is hoped to lead to practices line with the law and result in more humane treatment of homeowners who have fallen into financial difficulties.