KINROSS – Residents of Extension 21 were evicted by the Red Ants on Wednesday, 16 October because they were occupying the stands illegally.
100 men dressed in red overalls and black boots destroyed the shacks.
Mr Skhumbuzo Zondo, spokesman for the residents, said: “I can not believe this, how can the government we voted for treat us like this?
“I was sleeping at about 5.30am when I heard people shouting and I went out only to found out that the Red Ants were destroying our shacks.
“They destroyed our congregated iron and some of our furniture was broken.
“We do not know were to go to now, we do not have money to rent a place.
“Even if we had money, where can we get a place to stay?
“We are disappointed by our councillors and the mayor.
“We voted for them to better our lives, but where are they now when we struggle?
“They are sleeping in the comfort of their beds in town, whereas we do not have a place to sleep.”
Residents occupied the stands because they were not happy with the manner in which stands were allocated.
Mr Henry Masango, Govan Mbeki Communication and Marketing manager, said: “Govan Mbeki Local Municipality has obtained a court order on 3 September, interdicting persons illegally occupying the vacant stands at Extension 21 to vacate and demolish the shacks immediately.
“The order was also authorising the Sheriff to use force to demolish the shacks, therefore there is nothing untoward done by the municipality during the implementation of the court order.
“We condemn illegal occupation of land, because it delays planned and orderly development initiatives, thus perpetuating squalor conditions which undermine the human dignity of our communities.
“There is no condition in the order that says the municipality should provide alternative accommodation, instead it enjoins all respondents to pay for the cost of the eviction application.”
