RUST-TER-VAAL. – A clash between illegal squatters and the Red Ants resulted in two deaths at the New Ramaphosa Squatter camp near Rust-ter-Vaal last week.
The ensuing battle saw riot police called out to quell a riot as a shack dweller and a Red Ant were killed.
The Red Ants came after a court order was obtained by Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) to remove the illegal squatters from and more than 250 illegal residents resisted.
After the clashes, a queue of EFF supporters poured in to the nearby De Deur Police Station to lay murder charges against whoever shot a member of the community.
The shooting of a community member is said to have been retaliation for the shooting of the Red Ant, alleged the EFF, whose uniform of red overalls could see EFFs confused for Red Ants, and vice-versa.
Themba Dlomo (39) of the EFF pointed out that squatters should have been served with an eviction notice not later than March 30.
The squatters had apparently received no such notice until the day they woke up to see the Red Ants advancing with crowbars.
In some other instances the Red Ants were apparently seen donning allegedly stolen shoes and clothing they could not carry as they burned down people’s shacks.
The Red Ants member who died had to wait three hours for paramedics.
As a matter of urgency, he was transported from the murder scene by police Nyala to where an ambulance waited on the main road. After the ordeal, Red Ants allegedly set the shacks alight. One squatter, Mzwakhe Mhlophe (38), said he was awoken by the sound of his shack collapsing.
“We all lost valuable items during the evictions,” said Ellias Daniels.
Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) spokesperson, Stanley Gaba said they regret the loss of lives.
“People have been invading the land illegally. To curb the mushrooming of these invaders, ELM obtained a court order to remove them. The area is dolomitic and people can’t live here,” said Gaba.
Uhuru Moiloa for Human Settlements has since called for calm to avoid further clashes. “Those who invade the land will be prosecuted,” he said. A land invader says they will not back-off.
A case of murder and attempted murder is being investigated.
No arrests have been made.
