WHILE South Africa was celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, a mother and her disabled child were having possibly the worst time of their lives.

Lucia Mdluli and her son, Lindokuhle (16), were allegedly assaulted by the Red Ants when they were evicted from their flat in Fordsburg, Joburg, this week.

The Mdlulis were given the boot by the Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC) from their home, Urban Newtown Village flats.

During the eviction, said Mdluli (58), her wheelchair-bound son was injured.

"They came here early in the morning; I was not even properly dressed," she said.

Mdluli said the Red Ants wanted to bundle her son into one of the four trucks they arrived in, but she would not allow it because he needed special attention.

She said a scuffle broke out and there was "pushing and shoving and the child fell".

"He sustained injuries to his face. I have opened a case against Johannesburg Housing for this," she said.

She said she was not happy with the one-bedroomed flat offered her in the "middle of Hillbrow, because it is not safe and conducive for me and a disabled child".

Mdluli's lawyer, Morongoa Seleka, said the teenager was treated at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Seleka said he was disappointed by how the eviction was handled. "It won't be easy to reverse the eviction order, but we will challenge the way in which it was done."

SACP Gauteng secretary Jacob Mamabolo said the party would challenge the way in which the eviction was carried out. "This woman has suffered and right now she needs to be counselled and given support."

Police spokesman Sibongile Mnguni confirmed that a complaint of common assault had been made by Mdluli.

JHC chief executive Elize Stroebel rubbished Mdluli's claim that she was forcibly removed and said she deliberately hurt her son "to gain media attention".

Stroebel said an agreement had been reached between Mdluli's lawyers and the JHC for her to accept free alternative accommodation, but she changed her mind on the day of the eviction.

This is the second time that Mdluli has been evicted from the property. She and more than 350 families were kicked out earlier this year.

She was later, after intervention by the SACP, allowed to remain in the building while alternative accommodation was sought for her.

JHC acquired the block of flats at an auction in 2009.

The evictions are to allow the company to renovate the property.

• tlhoaeleb@sundayworld.co.za