‘I was dragged out and had my shack destroyed right in front of me’: Even though they begged and pleaded, the Red Ants demolished residents’ shacks in Lakeview informal settlement in Lawley, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs
Even though they begged and pleaded, the Red Ants demolished residents’ shacks, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backsThe veld housing a section of the Lakeview informal settlement in Lawley, southern Johannesburg, is quiet, except for the rhythmic sound of a hammer hitting a nail in the distance.
Ndumiso Sibiya has been a resident of the area for more than a year and, although his shack was not destroyed by the Red Ants, he is “helping his community to get back on their feet”. Initially, he helped a number of the community members to build their “shacks from scratch as a piece job I get paid for”.“We had to stay up all night, sitting outside in front of a fire, in groups, once again violating the social distancing regulations, because we had to keep an eye on the material as it could get stolen.”
“I was here when all of that commotion was happening. I was in my shack,” he says, shaking his head in disbelief as he relives the events from the day before. “We were left bare, with no roof over our heads. Why couldn’t they demolish our shacks knowing that they have an alternative place for us to go to?” asks a now homeless Dladla.She points to the ground and says: “This is where we had the fire burning all night. The neighbours whose shacks were demolished were all here and we took turns sleeping right next to the fire because we had to guard our material.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
City of Johannesburg agrees to stop demolitions, provide temporary shelter to Lakeview residentsThe city of Johannesburg has agreed to provide temporary shelter to the Lakeview residents whose shacks were demolished by the Red Ants last week.
Read more »
COVID-19: Protecting your rights.Webinar: Join hosts from SAHRC as they address human rights issues and the socio–economic human rights for education, housing, healthcare and livelihood during the lockdown and the uncertain future brought about by Covid-19. Register here:
Read more »
Infections among frontline workers in the Cape on the upThere are concerns over the growing incidence of Covid-19 infection among front-line workers in the Western Cape.
Read more »
North West man jumps in front of truck after 'killing wife'A man from Itsoseng in the North West is believed to have thrown himself in front of a moving truck shortly after allegedly killing his wife.
Read more »
North West man jumps in front of truck after 'killing wife'Col Adéle Myburgh said police were investigating a case of murder and another of culpable homicide after the discovery of the couple's bodies on Wednesday.
Read more »
Woman (51), man (30) become latest COVID-19 patients to die in WCMore than 24,000 tests have been carried out in the province, which is now the epicentre of the outbreak, having surpassed Gauteng this week.
Read more »