Sowetan Reporter
Sowetan Reporter
Scores of inner-city residents yesterday marched to the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg to protest against evictions by the so-called Red Ants.
The Red Ants are notorious for their strong-arm tactics when evicting people from illegally occupied buildings.
The protesters handed in a memorandum at Luthuli House demanding that the ANC should call for debt write-offs because most debts were inherited or caused by administrators and managing agents.
They also called on the ANC to "develop a comprehensive strategy to protect the elderly and vulnerable from evictions" and convene an inner-city indaba on housing-related issues before the end of January.
They gave the ruling party 14 days to respond to their grievances.
"For the past 10 years we have been living under threat. Different people came and claimed to be owners of buildings or flats, demanding money," said Johannesburg Inner-City Residents Association spokesman Moses Ka Moyo.
He said residents had also received fake court orders. "We demand protection from the ANC."
A disgruntled resident, Sifiso Nkomo, said: "We pay high rentals but we live in pigsties.
"We also have rights that are being infringed upon. For the past 10 years we have lived under unfavourable conditions, this must end."
The protesters toyi-toyied and carried placards reading: "Leave Hillbrow Alone" and "ANC Protect Our Human Rights".
residents march on anc
Sowetan Reporter
Sowetan Reporter
Scores of inner-city residents yesterday marched to the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg to protest against evictions by the so-called Red Ants.
The Red Ants are notorious for their strong-arm tactics when evicting people from illegally occupied buildings.
The protesters handed in a memorandum at Luthuli House demanding that the ANC should call for debt write-offs because most debts were inherited or caused by administrators and managing agents.
They also called on the ANC to "develop a comprehensive strategy to protect the elderly and vulnerable from evictions" and convene an inner-city indaba on housing-related issues before the end of January.
They gave the ruling party 14 days to respond to their grievances.
"For the past 10 years we have been living under threat. Different people came and claimed to be owners of buildings or flats, demanding money," said Johannesburg Inner-City Residents Association spokesman Moses Ka Moyo.
He said residents had also received fake court orders. "We demand protection from the ANC."
A disgruntled resident, Sifiso Nkomo, said: "We pay high rentals but we live in pigsties.
"We also have rights that are being infringed upon. For the past 10 years we have lived under unfavourable conditions, this must end."
The protesters toyi-toyied and carried placards reading: "Leave Hillbrow Alone" and "ANC Protect Our Human Rights".
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