TENSIONS ran high after a team of municipal employees and private security guards swooped on the Donnelley Road flats on The Bluff to remove “illegal occupants” from the newly built flats on November 4.

Families who took occupation of the flats initially refused to budge and reportedly told the officials that they were rightfully allocated to the buildings.

However, soldiers accompanying municipal officials allegedly started forcefully removing the occupants, which resulted in a scuffle.

Also read: Municipality responds to Donnelly Road fiasco

During the altercation, one of the residents, Zuko Ncobela, clashed with private security guards.

In a video circulating on social media, the guards are seen entering the room where Ncobela was located. Moments later, Ncobela is heard screaming, “Are you beating me up?”

According to residents who witnessed the incident, the security guards allegedly removed furniture from the unit and threw the belongings outside.

Ncobela’s grandmother, Ntombizodwa, who was also inside the house at the time, was allegedly shoved out of the building.

Also read: eThekwini Municipality visits Donnelly Road flats on The Bluff

Zuko sustained an open wound above his eye and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Another resident who asked not to be named said, “My granny has been staying here for over 18 years, but because she was staying with her daughter who has since relocated and married, she is being denied to sign for her flat. Mind you she was on the list that the Department of Human Settlement called out and has been profiled on all the other lists done at the convent. She stays with her grandson who has signed an affidavit stating that he will be responsible for paying her rent as she is a pensioner; other tenants have also done that who are pensioners, so why is her case not accepted?”

Police spokesperson for eThekwini District, Captain Carmen Rhynes, said a case of assault grievous bodily harm has been opened at Brighton Beach police station.

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