Squatters burned tyres, threw stones and toyi-toyied in Boksburg on Wednesday when the ”Red Ants” moved in to evict them and demolish their shacks, Ekurhuleni metro police said.
Incidents of violence were isolated and ”no major resistance” was being shown by the 6 000 squatters, said metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago. No arrests have been made.
The Wozani Security company, also known as the Red Ants because of their red overalls, assist the sheriff of the court in executing court orders.
The informal settlement is situated in Lilianton, Boksburg, not far from the Angelo Hostel and Angelo Railway Station along the Main Reef Road, he said.
Kgasago said the squatters, who had invaded the land some time ago, had been given three months to move out.
Only a fraction had complied, said Kgasago.
”They were hoping we would not show up.”
The demolitions ”might take us right into the afternoon”, he said.
Kgasago said the demolitions started at 6am, and that some road intersections had been closed, causing traffic problems in the area.
He said the squatters were being given an opportunity to remove their personal possessions from the shacks before they were demolished.
In a separate incident in Germiston, 200 to 300 people used burning tyres to barricade the intersection of Osborn and Nitrogen roads in Wadeville.
There were conflicting reports of the reasons for the protest, with some claiming it was labour-related and others saying it had to do with housing, said Kgasago. No more information was immediately available. – Sapa