• About us
  • Donate
  • WADR
  • Contact us
  • Live Stream
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Loud Silence News
Advertisement
  • Ghana News
    • General News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Opinion
  • US News
    • Business
    • Health
    • Human Interest Stories
    • Politics
    • Education
  • Africa News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
    • Politics
  • ShowBiz
    • Ghana ShowBiz
    • US Showbiz
    • African ShowBiz
    • World Showbiz
  • Editorials
    • People
  • World News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
  • Sports
    • Ghana Sports
    • World Sports
  • WADR
No Result
View All Result
  • Ghana News
    • General News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Opinion
  • US News
    • Business
    • Health
    • Human Interest Stories
    • Politics
    • Education
  • Africa News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
    • Politics
  • ShowBiz
    • Ghana ShowBiz
    • US Showbiz
    • African ShowBiz
    • World Showbiz
  • Editorials
    • People
  • World News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
  • Sports
    • Ghana Sports
    • World Sports
  • WADR
No Result
View All Result
Loud Silence News
No Result
View All Result
Home African News

Angry residents force MEC, mayor to cancel visit to Joburg informal settlement where Red Ants destroyed homes

Loud Silence Staff by Loud Silence Staff
April 20, 2020
in African News
0
There won’t be evictions during lockdown, but ‘invaders’ will be dealt with – Gauteng MEC Maile
3
SHARES
19
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

[ad_1]

Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo and Gauteng Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cogta MEC Lebogang Maile were unable to address angry residents of the Kokotela informal settlement in Lawley, south of Johannesburg, on Sunday.

Makhubo and Maile said they had decided to call off their visit to the area, after police assessed that it was a safety risk.

Meanwhile, scores of residents, young and old, gathered on the road to protest against the presence of Makhubo and Maile.

On Thursday, Makhubo ordered security and evictions company Red Ants to destroy shacks and houses that had been illegally built by the residents.

Makhubo claimed that he only ordered them to destroy shacks and houses that were not occupied, and occupied homes were not touched.

Residents claimed that Makhubo had contravened the lockdown regulations by outsourcing the evictions to the Red Ants, who arrived in buses, trucks and vans to demolish properties.

READ | Sisulu reiterates ban on evictions and water cuts during coronavirus lockdown

They said they were now homeless after their homes were destroyed.

Some of their building material was also confiscated by the Red Ants, they claim.

Some evicted residents later burnt tyres and other objects on the road.

#LockdownSA Kokotela residents burning objects on the road after hearing that mayor Geoff Makhubo and MEC Lebogang Maile were not going to address them. Residents are demanding their homes that were destroyed on Thursday be restored @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/GDDwykvs1D

— ntwaagae Seleka (@ntwaagae) April 19, 2020

Timothy Rathebe, who lost his three-roomed brick house, said he wanted the law to act against Makhubo.

“How can he evict us during lockdown? The president of the country has made it clear that we must all remain indoors during lockdown, but Makhubo decided to ensure that we are homeless with our children.

“We are now squatting in people’s homes because of Makhubo. He should have consulted with us and given us enough time to vacate the land after lockdown,” said Rathebe.

He said his children were traumatised after witnessing the Red Ants destroy their home.

Manana Tsotetsi lost her two-bedroom brick house.  

Tsotetsi said she was at home when the Red Ants arrived.

“They proceeded straight to my house with an excavator and brought it down. I told them I had no other place to go and they laughed at me when they took away part of my building material,” said Tsotetsi.

“I am in pain that the party that I have voted for has destroyed my home. I came to Kokotela last year after being homeless for a long time. I have applied for an RDP house in 1997 and have been waiting for my house since then.

“I spent my disability grant savings to build a home for my children. Today, we are homeless, and Makhubo must reimburse us for the damages… done.”

Stolen appliances

Precious Mdluli claimed that some of her appliances and furniture were stolen before her brick house was destroyed.

“My fridge, television and other appliances were stolen before my house was brought to the ground. I was away in Soweto when I was called by a neighbour that my house was being destroyed.

“When I arrived, there was no house. It was only bricks and the roofing material, appliances and furniture were gone. I am shocked that Makhubo said he only ordered for houses that were not occupied to be destroyed, and yet mine was destroyed,” she said.

Mdluli said she was now sleeping at a friend’s shack, which is a contravention of the lockdown regulations.

“I have no home. Where does Makhubo expect me to stay, because I am homeless?” she asked.

In a statement issued later, Maile and Makhubo confirmed that they had planned to visit the area.

Maile’s spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the purpose of the visit was to undertake an assessment of the situation on the ground, following demolitions of unoccupied and incomplete structures in order to prevent ongoing “land invasions” in the area.

“As a result of the visit, a throng of community members, including the elderly and children, were mobilised to protest against the visit. The visit has since been postponed consistent with the lockdown regulations of disallowing mass gatherings. 

“Both Maile and Mayor Makhubo have reaffirmed their commitment to adhere to a moratorium on evictions and demolitions, as announced by national government, during this lockdown period. However, law enforcement will continue to guard against and act on land invasions during this time.”

“The community of Lawley is urged to remain calm and allow government to intervene, without flouting lockdown regulations. Maile will hold an urgent meeting with all mayors of municipalities in Gauteng to look into their land invasion  measures during this lockdown period,” Ngobese said.



[ad_2]

This content first appear on news24

You might also like

Veteran Actor Mr. Ibu’s leg amputated, family says

Kenyan Fake lawyer, Brian Mwenda who won all 26 cases handled gets support to study law abroad

Davido and Chioma’s 3-year-old son, Ifeanyi dead

Tags: geoff makhuboHousingjohannesburglandlebogang maileprotests
Previous Post

What Americans are buying online while in quarantine

Next Post

Gold mining in Ghana: Going underground with a child miner

Loud Silence Staff

Loud Silence Staff

Related Posts

Veteran Actor Mr. Ibu’s leg amputated, family says
African News

Veteran Actor Mr. Ibu’s leg amputated, family says

by News Reporter
November 7, 2023
Kenyan Fake lawyer, Brian Mwenda who won all 26 cases handled gets support to study law abroad
African News

Kenyan Fake lawyer, Brian Mwenda who won all 26 cases handled gets support to study law abroad

by News Reporter
October 17, 2023
Davido and Chioma’s 3-year-old son, Ifeanyi dead
African News

Davido and Chioma’s 3-year-old son, Ifeanyi dead

by News Reporter
November 1, 2022
Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government
African News

Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government

by News Reporter
September 30, 2022
William Ruto wins presidential poll in Kenya
African News

William Ruto wins presidential poll in Kenya

by News Reporter
August 15, 2022
Next Post
Gold mining in Ghana: Going underground with a child miner

Gold mining in Ghana: Going underground with a child miner

Recommended

Penguin Meets Up With Orangutan During Excursion In Empty San Diego Zoo

Penguin Meets Up With Orangutan During Excursion In Empty San Diego Zoo

May 1, 2020
CIA warned employees against Trump’s wonder drug

CIA warned employees against Trump’s wonder drug

April 14, 2020

Categories

  • African Business
  • African Education
  • African Health
  • African News
  • African Politics
  • African ShowBiz
  • Education
  • Ghana Business
  • Ghana News
  • Ghana ShowBiz
  • Ghana Sports
  • Human Interest Stories
  • News
  • Opinion
  • People
  • ShowBiz
  • Social Trends
  • US Business
  • US Education
  • US Health
  • US News
  • US Politics
  • US Showbiz
  • WADR
  • World Business
  • World News
  • World Politics
  • World Showbiz
  • World Sports

Don't miss it

President Mahama Unveils 24-Hour Economy Plan, Set to roll out in July
Ghana News

President Mahama Unveils 24-Hour Economy Plan, Set to roll out in July

May 28, 2025
Unmasking the Propaganda Machine: The Coordinated Smear Campaign Against Dr. Anne Sansa Daly
Ghana News

Ghana’s Medical and Dental Council Clarifies Stance on Dr. Anne Sansa Daly’s Certification

May 26, 2025
Nii Armah Amarteifio Apologizes to Dr. Daly
Ghana News

Nii Armah Amarteifio Apologizes to Dr. Daly

May 24, 2025
Unmasking the Propaganda Machine: The Coordinated Smear Campaign Against Dr. Anne Sansa Daly
Ghana News

Unmasking the Propaganda Machine: The Coordinated Smear Campaign Against Dr. Anne Sansa Daly

May 23, 2025
Legal Notice: Demand for Retraction of Defamatory Publication
Ghana News

Legal Notice: Demand for Retraction of Defamatory Publication

May 23, 2025
Legal Notice: Demand for Retraction of Defamatory Publication
Ghana News

Legal Notice: Demand for Retraction of Defamatory Publication

May 23, 2025

About Us

LOGO

Loud Silence Radio & TV Network and is a multi media production company focusing on Ghanaian and African news.

Contact

  • Alexandria, Virginia, USA
  • +1 212-602-9641
  • loudsilenceradio@gmail.com
Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

Download App

google play store

© 2021 Loud Silence Media. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Donate
  • Live Stream
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
Menu
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Donate
  • Live Stream
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
No Result
View All Result
  • Ghana News
    • General News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Opinion
  • US News
    • Business
    • Health
    • Human Interest Stories
    • Politics
    • Education
  • Africa News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
    • Politics
  • ShowBiz
    • Ghana ShowBiz
    • US Showbiz
    • African ShowBiz
    • World Showbiz
  • Editorials
    • People
  • World News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
  • Sports
    • Ghana Sports
    • World Sports
  • WADR
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.