WATCH: Tenants left in the cold following mass eviction

Residents of Winchester Court, on the corner of Pope and Delarey streets in Yeoville, were left in the blistering cold on 28 June, following a mass eviction.

The Red Ants came in their masses to remove furniture and electrical equipment from the premises.

Residents living in the apartment complex said they were shocked by the eviction as they did not receive any court order to vacate the premises.

Mandaza Thabaphadzi, a tenant, said they were surprised by the eviction as there was still a court order pending, according to their lawyer.

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“We did not know anything about this eviction, there is still a court process pending,” he said.

Thabaphadzi said as tenants they have been paying the rent for the past three years to the apartment committee running the complex.

“Everything is damaged, we have nowhere to go, and this is like a tsunami for us we are left with nothing.”

Residents watched from across the street as the Red Ants went from flat to flat, emerging with their belongings. Some of the residents said they have been staying in the building for more than 15 years and have nowhere else to go.

Metro police officers and Gauteng police were also present during the eviction.

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Local residents and neighbours watched on from the roadside as more than 200 people prepared for a cold night in the streets.

The sheriff was also present during the eviction but refrained from commenting.

The evictions started at 9 am and caused great unhappiness among the tenants, who were not allowed to move their belongings themselves.

The owner of the building was unavailable for a comment at the time of going to press.

This is an ongoing story. More information will be revealed as it becomes available.