Red Ants accused of looting
Honeydew Ridge – WATCH angry community confronts court sheriff during the eviction on 14 March
Following the eviction of Honeydew Ridge informal dwellers, plot 16 in Ward 97 on 14 March, the Red Ants have been accused of looting amidst the chaotic destruction.
The informal dwellers spent their first night without a roof over their heads after their homes were completely destroyed by red force.
The settlers had to snuggle around the fire the whole night to keep them warm.
The Red Ants came unannounced to the settlement accompanied by the sheriff of the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court to demolish the homes of more than 250 settlers.
Dan Moletsane, a resident and chairman of the South African National Civic Organisation, was captured on camera confronting the sheriff and accusing him of undermining the displaced residents.
He told Roodepoort Northsider that they were shown an eviction letter by the sheriff of the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court.
“The eviction order was from 2015, ordering only 15 residents to leave the land,” he said.
A local activist Ashley Mama criticised the City of Johannesburg for being inactive.
“The manner in which the eviction took place is illegal because only 15 people knew about the eviction. Some people were at work when this happened and the Ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott, only responded to the scene after several hours. This is due to the City’s inactiveness. Now families, and especially children, will have no place to sleep,” he said.
Mama also accused the Red Ants of looting valuables during the eviction process.
“The Red Ants looted the people’s food and money during the eviction process which was illegal.”
In response, Knott said this was a private land issue, however, she was trying to get a legal team to represent the evicted dwellers.
“This matter is a private land issue so it’s not the City’s domain.”
She added that she has requested an investigation into the matter and is trying to arrange alternative accommodation.
She went on and said the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, councillor Mzobanzi Ntuli will be visiting the site today to assess the situation.
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