Graca Thileka stood helplessly carrying her two-week-old baby in Clarendon Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg, after she was evicted from Williston Court Tuesday morning.
Her two other children, aged two and four, stood near her crying for food. Thileka managed to rescue few items she could carry but said other valuables, including her children's food, had been left inside the building.
"I was told that my appliances have been stolen. I cannot move from where I am standing because my children will disappear too. This is painful. We were not informed on time about this eviction, instead we were woken by Red Ants (security company) who kicked us out," she said.
Pandemonium broke out when scores of Red Ants Security Services stormed the building yesterday morning in the company of the sheriff of the court with an eviction order, while police kept an eye over the chaotic proceedings.
The owner of the building could not be reached for comment.
Tenants claimed they had been occupying the building for a long time and said they were paying between R2000 and R4500 rent a month, depending on the size of their apartments.
Sizani Nkomazana, also a mother of four young children, was left only with the pyjamas she was wearing.
"I have lost everything I owned. The Red Ants arrived after 5am and kicked down our door. My children had just left for school when they arrived. They forced me outside and promised that they will bring all my things outside. I am still waiting and have not seen them."
City of Johannesburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said the evictions were linked to action against building hijackings which are rampant in the inner city.
"The acts of building hijackings are criminal. We are working with state agencies including the Hawks and the NPA to come up with a coordinated effort [to fight off these hijackings].
"These hijackings and illegal occupation of buildings have been identified as one of the critical issues that need to be attended," he said.
Tenants evicted in fight against city hijackings
Graca Thileka stood helplessly carrying her two-week-old baby in Clarendon Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg, after she was evicted from Williston Court Tuesday morning.
Her two other children, aged two and four, stood near her crying for food. Thileka managed to rescue few items she could carry but said other valuables, including her children's food, had been left inside the building.
"I was told that my appliances have been stolen. I cannot move from where I am standing because my children will disappear too. This is painful. We were not informed on time about this eviction, instead we were woken by Red Ants (security company) who kicked us out," she said.
Pandemonium broke out when scores of Red Ants Security Services stormed the building yesterday morning in the company of the sheriff of the court with an eviction order, while police kept an eye over the chaotic proceedings.
The owner of the building could not be reached for comment.
Tenants claimed they had been occupying the building for a long time and said they were paying between R2000 and R4500 rent a month, depending on the size of their apartments.
Sizani Nkomazana, also a mother of four young children, was left only with the pyjamas she was wearing.
"I have lost everything I owned. The Red Ants arrived after 5am and kicked down our door. My children had just left for school when they arrived. They forced me outside and promised that they will bring all my things outside. I am still waiting and have not seen them."
City of Johannesburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said the evictions were linked to action against building hijackings which are rampant in the inner city.
"The acts of building hijackings are criminal. We are working with state agencies including the Hawks and the NPA to come up with a coordinated effort [to fight off these hijackings].
"These hijackings and illegal occupation of buildings have been identified as one of the critical issues that need to be attended," he said.
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