Hillbrow residents had a massive eviction by the Red Ants on Thursday at the Matroosberg building.
Numerous tenants were left homeless after the Red Ants recklessly emptied out their apartments due to tenants failing to pay their monthly rental.
The tenants who were evicted said they had not received an eviction notice. 42 units were emptied out, with foreign nationals being majority of those who were evicted.
“I felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed, I was at work when I received a phone call informing me that the building I live in is steering evictions.
Spokesperson of the Hillbrow Police Station Musa Shihambe says “an eviction notice of three months was sent out and the tenants were given time to prepare.”
Tenants were left devastated with many of them having nowhere to go. They said they would have to sleep on the streets or ask for shelter at churches as it is now winter.
Many people who were evicted were mothers with children with some of the children being only a few months old.
Tenants expressed their frustration as some of their belongings were stolen or destroyed by the red ants while they toss them outside.
It is alleged that the notice was given to the property owners only, the tenants also demand their rent money for June, which they have already paid.
The Spokesperson they cannot assist the homeless people.
“We issued out eviction notice as required, and that the rest was up to the tenants. More of these evictions will take place in the near future.”
