South Africa: authorities in full containment destroy informal settlements

Text by: RFI Follow

South Africa enters this weekend in its 5th week of containment. However, the inhabitants of certain slums of the country have seen their shelters illegally built be demolished by the authorities, in particular within the community of Lawley, in the south of Johannesburg.

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg , Claire Bargelès

The mayor of Johannesburg defended himself against any eviction ... The "Red Ants", the name given because of their behavior to agents specializing in the demolition of informal settlements, acted according to him to stop the illegal invasion of land.

Namhla carries her two-year-old binoculars under her arms. She contemplates the dusty ground where her shelter was a few days ago. "  They say they destroyed the constructions where nobody lived inside. But in mine, there were blankets, a mattress, and my things ... My neighbor the same, but they still destroyed everything. With this coronavirus, they tell us that we have to stay at home, but I have to live with my neighbor now, and there are 6 or 7 of us in one room!  " 

Dozens of these sheet metal houses were destroyed in the area earlier this week. Some have started to rebuild them, but Howard prefers to wait. "  I was at the clinic, and received a call saying that the" red ants "were destroying everything here. Today, I have no job, no food, and no shelter. And if we start to rebuild, they will tell us: "Look, they build during confinement, and it's illegal!"  " 

Since the start of containment, similar operations have taken place in the suburbs of Cape Town and Durban. The Minister of Housing condemned these actions, promising that no further evictions would take place during the confinement period. Pushed by the Human Rights Commission, the city of Johannesburg has finally promised to relocate the evicted residents.

Containment measures should be relaxed starting next Friday, especially for businesses, but residents are still being asked to stay at home, while the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase. The country has passed the 4,000-case mark.

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• South Africa

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