Sick woman dies after eviction

By GYNNIE KERO
A WOMAN who was evicted with her family from their home by police on Monday and forced to sleep on the pavement has died, says her family.
The family from Moveave village, Gulf, told The National that the eviction followed a court decision over the ow­nership of the house, which the family had occupied for 61 years.
Siblings Theresa and Eddie Uvisa said the house, from the National Housing Corporation (NHC), was “completely paid off” by their father in 2007.
They said the policemen arrived in three trooper carriers and forcefully removed them from their house between 1.30pm and 3pm on Monday.
They claimed the police dragged their 91-year-old father out from under a mango tree and hit two female members of the family with iron rods.
“The policemen claimed to have a court order to remove us from the house because they saw us as illegal residents,” they said.
“Our aunty, who was sick with cervical cancer, was carried out of the house and laid beside the road.
“The court was adjourned to February this year. We ne­ver had the chance to meet the magistrate.
“How can a decision be made if it’s not in the court room?
“Our old man bought the house in 2007 … we do not have the title; it somehow ended up in someone else’s hands who claimed to have paid off the house in 2010.
“Court was still going on until recently, we got word, a decision had been made.
“The magistrate ruled in favour of the other person who claimed to be the owner.”
The family returned to their house on Tuesday after Hohola police intervened but the sick woman died that evening after spending the previous night on the street. 
Meanwhile, in an advertisement in yesterday’s paper, the NHC advised any person or corporate body that has in his possession  and custody, valid and existing sealed and signed court orders against itself (NHC) to come forward with such legally enforceable documents.