Red Ants: We had court order to demolish Alex homes

The notorious eviction company released a statement after both the city manager Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni and mayor Herman Mashaba said they did not authorise the eviction.

More than 100 Alexandra residents were left without a roof over their heads after the Red Ants, the police and metro police moved in to demolish 80 structures on Friday.

On Wednesday, Lukhwareni told an inquiry by the South African Human Rights Commission and the public protector in Braamfontein that he knew about plans to demolish the homes, which were illegally built along the Jukskei River.

The mayor’s acting spokesperson Olebogeng Molatlhwa says Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni has only taken responsibility insofar as he is the ultimate accounting officer in the city.

During the inquiry, Lukhwareni said he thought the targeted structures were either incomplete or unoccupied.

The Red Ants have disputed allegations that it took part in the unlawful eviction of the Alex residents.

"The court order also authorised the sheriff of the high court to remove any person found in breach of the order and further authorised the sheriff to demolish any illegal structures erected on the property after the service of the court order."

The Red Ants reiterated that it did not act on its own.

"Red Ants only become involved once its services are requested and commissioned by a party that obtained a court order, and in turn, becomes involved in order to assist the sheriff of the court and police authorities."

Read the full statement below: