The Steenvilla low-cost housing complex in Steenberg went up in flames on Thursday as residents once again put up a fight against eviction.
Residents barricaded the main gate with a broken-down car before setting it alight.
The car was petrol-bombed as private security and the Sheriff of the Court’s eviction unit, the Red Ants, came to remove residents from 31 apartments.
Entering at a side entrance, police and security guards were stoned and pelted with petrol bombs.
Police responded with stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the mob.
A private security nyala with heavily armed members, alongside SAPS, doused the flames with a water cannon.
The nyala then rammed into the chained gate, breaking it and pushing the smouldering vehicle out of the way to allow cops to enter.
The violent protest led to road closures in the area and traffic had to be diverted.
The City of Cape Town’s Richard Coleman said: “Due to protest action, Military Road between Flora Road and Allenby Drive and Salem Way was closed to traffic.”
STRATEGY: Cops dispersed the crowd with tear gas, stun grenades
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says no one was injured and no arrests were made, and the eviction went ahead after police took control of the situation.
“No injuries were recorded. A total of 31 apartments were scheduled for evictions. The situation is calm and the evictions are progressing steadily,” Van Wyk said.
The Red Ants - in their red overalls and protective gear - stood with their shields up as their colleagues boxed up belongings and placed them on trucks.
The boxes were later put on the grass patch in front of the complex for evicted residents to collect.
The chairperson for the Steenvilla Social Housing Action Group, Beryl Schouw, said people were protesting because “Sohco are stealing our subsidies”.
“Our subsidies have been removed. They are charging us bond rates. We’ve been singing this song for two years, nobody wants to listen,” said Schouw.
“Sohco is paying R150 per annum to rent here, but we have to pay over R4000. This is what we are fighting for.
“Why are these people overthrowing the constitution when it states we cannot be evicted until relevant accommodation has been found? This is colonialism.”
Sohco is a private company that provides low-cost, government subsidised homes to qualifying people.
VIOLENT: The Red Ants removing belongings of Steenvilla residents
The CEO for Sohco Property Investments NPC, Heather Maxwell, says people were being evicted for failing to pay rent.
“During March 2016, a small group of tenants stopped paying rent. After attempts to resolve the situation were unsuccessful, Sohco initiated eviction proceedings in court during 2016, with eviction orders being granted during 2017,” said Maxwell.
“We are aware of a very small group of tenants disrupting the life and interfering with the rights of the majority of residents in the development.
“The Sheriff of the Court had 31 court issued eviction orders which he was completing.”