This art installation is in Cape Town on a derelict building close to the Court house. I discovered it many years ago when I had just embarked on a ~~fight~~ journey of standing up for Justice and defending "the underdog" while taking on a rather hefty opponent.
It was a lengthy battle that left me exceptionally scarred, bruised and beaten down. Justice didn't prevail, but I stood up for what was right and I survived it. It took me a long time to recover from that but I did and it strengthened my character and gave me more inner strength for the next battle that I needed to fight a few years down the line, this time defending and safeguarding my 2 year old daughter.
If there is one thing that I absolutely abhor - it is bullies.
People that feel they are entitled to yield power over others due to their position of authority, size, power, etc with little concern for the recipient.
I was born into a family where bullying was not only accepted, in certain circumstances it was encouraged, especially by my father. My 4 year older full blood sister bullied me mercilessly and without respite, both physically and mentally. I no longer have any contact with this person - because she is still to this day a bully. My parents unfortunately downplayed this most of the time and chalked it up to "sibling rivalry" until one day my mother had to pry my sister's hands from around my neck while I scrambled furiously to remain conscious.
These types of people leave a very bad taste in my mouth. I am not a belligerent person by nature, I am not vengeful or spiteful and I have a sufficient capacity to absorb verbal abuse and posturing before I get to a point where a line is crossed.
While in nature conservation I was somewhat advantaged to have done a few basics on understanding, interpreting and enforcing law - a prerequisite for successfully becoming a Peace Officer as well as completing my degree. There were various instances in my career where I had to implement legal action against transgressors (mostly residents, but some poachers and some trespassers etc) of legislation. A colleague of mine nicknamed me "The Ratel" for my tenacity and fearless nature in taking these types down.
The Ratel ~ an NFT by me
In that position I ended up taking on a fish poaching syndicate, disarming a knife carrying illegal plant collector, having many illegal occupants removed from the natural area and even taking on a high ranking and very well known Judge for infilling a wetland to illegally enlarge the size of her garden. I did it legally by the book without venom as I am generally a very practical and diplomatic person.
A few days ago I was accused of materially breaching two clauses of my lease agreement. The first one is an absolute case of fraud and I have the evidence to back this up. The second allegation contravenes legislation and that was, unfortunately for my landlady - the last straw.
At this point I started to assemble my armour - one piece of legislation at a time. I've been busy. This morning I completed a 106 page report of contraventions by the landlady / letting agent of various laws and regulations including the Consumer Protection Act, Fire Safety Act, Occupation Health and Safety Act, the South African National Standards Codes as well as local Municipality Regulations relating to the Level 5 drought. Then I welcomed a visit from the Fire Department Chief Safety inspector who declared the entire gas installation non-compliant and unsafe - essentially the building has been illegally leased and is not safe for habitation.
I did not set out to do this out of vengeance, but I had to put a stop to the harassatory nature of this woman when I have, up to this point gone beyond reasonable measure to be a kind, helpful, compliant and reasonable tenant. I have not once defaulted on rent or the municipal account and she has unfortunately got to a comfortable place of familiarity where she felt entitled to start treating me like shit which I simply won't tolerate.
No landlord of mine previously dared send a gardener of theirs over a boundary wall to ring the doorbell of my residence until I woke up at 6:30am, something that was not arranged with me and most certainly was not an emergency. When people start to take advantage of your good nature, it becomes necessary to press the reset button on boundaries and the lack of courtesy.
I do not like having to threaten people with legal action and would prefer to discuss the issues at hand and come to a compromise that suits both parties, unless there is an immediate safety concern that needs to be rectified or if they are overstepping what is reasonable, fair and just. There comes a point though when enough is enough.
Perhaps it is my small stature that people underestimate my ability and propensity to defend myself (and my daughter) should the need arise.
Perhaps people mistake my kind nature for weakness and assume that they can take advantage of me and I will simply let it slide.
Perhaps it is the general ignorance of people now days that they assume people simply won't stand up for what is right according to law and common decency.
Perhaps it is simply another symptom of the decay of society.
Well unfortunately for her, she chose the wrong person to try her luck with this time. I will be surprised if she manages to retain her estate agent license. I am not rooting for her to lose her job, that is not in my nature at all. However - someone who has sold and let houses for a living for almost 6 years yet claims ignorance of the prevailing requirements by law as an excuse for her non compliance and essentially breaching her own lease agreement in the process - That is not acceptable to me. You don't get to have all the cake, all the coffee, all the chocolate eclairs, call the waitress a bimbo and refuse to pay the bill without being bitch slapped.
A valid Gas Installation Certificate, Beetle Infestation Certificate, Plumbing Certificate and Electrical Certificate of Compliance are required when selling a property. These also apply when letting to ensure safe occupation.
Needless to say I am tired, but somehow I feel empowered knowing that perhaps this will be the last lease that she issues where she claims that the Consumer Protection Act does not apply to her (this offence alone carries up to a R1million fine or 10% of annual turnover whichever the greater or a prison term or a combination of both). Perhaps this will be the last property that she tries to claim that the tenant is in breach of contract for following the level 5 drought water restrictions (the law) instead of her invalid lease agreement. Perhaps I will be the last person that she tries to bully into submission so that she can get a nice R20k Christmas bonus by stealing my rental deposit.
Perhaps a house won't blow up killing the family in it due to a non compliant, hazardous gas installation that she was too ignorant to know would render the property inhabitable.
If I have saved at least one person from the treatment I have received in the last few weeks and possibly a life in the process - then it was totally worth it.
