The Red Ant Security Relocation and Eviction Services, commonly known as the Red Ants, have begun demolishing illegal structures on land near Mataffin in Mbombela.

Lowvelder caught up with a large contingent of the Red Ants as they gathered at Mbombela Stadium yesterday.

Armed and wearing transparent plastic face shields, the group refused to speak to Lowvelder about their reasons for being in the area or who had authorised their deployment.

A few minutes later, the group moved to the nearby land, where members of the Mataffin community had begun erecting structures and creating informal roads.

While some members of the Red Ants demolished structures, others prevented community members from accessing the land. Despite the tense standoff, members of the Mataffin community shouted at the Red Ants, ordering them to leave.

“We are not afraid of anyone. You better leave before this situation escalates into something really bad,” one resident was overheard telling the Red Ants.

“No one will stop us from taking this land. It belongs to our forefathers, so please cool down. We are not going anywhere,” another community member shouted.

Attempts to reach the City of Mbombela’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, for clarification on who called in the Red Ants were unsuccessful. Calls to the Red Ants’ Johannesburg headquarters also went unanswered.

Earlier, Lowvelder reported concerns from residents of Marina and Cussons streets in West Acres over ongoing land invasions adjacent to their homes.

The invasions involve sections of Eligedleni Farm, where members of the Mataffin community have been occupying the land for several weeks.

Trees have been cut down, makeshift roads cleared, and some structures erected, seemingly in preparation for housing.

Residents have held meetings to seek solutions, fearing the occupation could harm property values and threaten community safety.

Members of the SAPS were forced to retreat over a week ago when the Mataffin community turned violent as police, acting on a court order, attempted to evict them.

Police were forced to use rubber bullets and stun grenades while making their escape.

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