THE deployment of the notorious Red Ants for the relocation of Phomolong informal settlers to Mamelodi East has irked local residents.

Residents now say the Tshwane Metro is reneging on the initial agreement.

They also said the City failed to inform them about its plan to employ the services of the Red Ants, who are notorious for the forceful removal of informal settlements dwellers while demolishing their shacks and confiscating their belongings.

The relocation of Phomolong residents followed last week's disastrous burst water supply pipe, which damaged shacks and claimed the lives of two children.

The burst water pipe victims are being resettled to an area near the Eerste Fabrieke railway station.

An agreement had been reached between the affected locals and Tshwane mayor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, whereby 110 locals were employed to dismantle and transport shacks built close to the burst water supply pipe. The work started last Tuesday.

However, the municipality yesterday brought in the Red Ants to speed up the relocation. The locals felt the municipality had treated them unfairly by bringing in the Red Ants without informing them.

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Thu May 23 20:31:42 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 30, 2012

Mellow

Ok but the residents knows that they need to mpve right? So why use force or destroy and confiscate their belongings in the process. I understand that this needs to be resolved pronto butcant they work together?
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Aug 30, 2012

Shredder

Mellow - The problem is that the residents might resist to move if not forced to do so. Rumours say the people were supposed to have moved already. If I am not mistaken the last day for relocation was a day after the water pipe burst. Unfortunately the pipe burst made matters worse.
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Aug 30, 2012

Mellow

@Shredder ooohhh yah makes sense that force is used then so where will they be placed/moved to or Gov. just want them to move they dont care where they are heading to? Was it an illegal settlement eish our people sometimes SAD!!!
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Sep 1, 2012

skwamasamabele

The govt has a duty and responsibility to its citizens. Why cant the govt develop a site, build homes (using the residents' labour force, after training them),create a town,not toilet houses like the RDP hell-holes. The residents might be enticed to move to decent housing and create a new town. SA HAS NO SHORTAGE OF LAND!!!! Squatter camp mentality needs to be eradicated completely. Spend money to earn money, people make the economy work, not the other way round
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