SEBOKENG.- Valuable items, including money and furniture, were either damaged or stolen during the eviction of Boiketlong, Sebokeng residents by the “Blue Ants” since October 14.

These serious allegations are made by community members of Boiketlong, an area commonly known as ‘Serope sea benya.’

According to community members, more than a hundred families lost their homes (shacks) when the Blue Ants , a private security company hired to demolish the shacks after receiving an eviction order.

The order, issued last Friday, allegedly gave residents only 48 hours to vacate the area.

Residents voiced their concerns over the lack of alternative accommodation being provided by the government, saying they have lived in Boiketlong for more than 35 years and have nowhere else to go.

The eviction notice, issued by the Sheriff of Westonaria, stems from a court order granted on July 21, 2021, against unlawful occupiers on the remaining extent of the farm, Quaggasfontein. Although the court initially suspended the eviction for 20 months for Phase 1, that suspension has now reportedly expired, leading to the current enforcement action.

Community members lamented the fact that their valuable properties were damaged, and their groceries, money, and even some of the zincs that made up their homes were stolen.

“We have nowhere to go, these people just came and ambushed us. We were not made aware that they would be coming. What we received was an eviction letter displayed on two corners of our street, giving us 24 hours to leave. We had a meeting with our councillor, who guaranteed us that he knew nothing about the letter, but here we are. We find ourselves without homes, our furniture has been damaged, and our food and money (which they had been keeping in their shacks) have been stolen. Please help us,” said Lehlohonolo Mothole, a community member.

Community leader, Seun Bulwana, said that they are saddened by what happened, as Ward 36 Councillor Mpho ‘Fish’ Kolisang had promised that the situation of the eviction letter would be worked out.

“There are people here who qualify for houses, they have the letters (proof) to show, but they are being treated like this. We thought that those people who qualify, and are on the allocation lists, would be helped, and then those that do not qualify, their issue would be discussed, but then this (the eviction) happened,” Bulwana said.

Another community member, Lawrence Khumalo, a pensioner who survives on ‘piece jobs,’ said that he was at one of his ‘jobs’ around Heidelberg when he was called and informed about the “Blue Ants’ who had arrived and were busy demolishing people’s homes. He then had to rush home to salvage what he could.

Sedibeng Ster sent an enquiry about the evictions to Clr Kolisang, who said that he is in a meeting and will revert to Sedibeng Ster. An enquiry was also sent to ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni, who said that he was on leave and referred Sedibeng Ster to another official at the municipality.

Sedibeng Ster is still awaiting responses from both officials.