Mfuleni residents protest against 'heavy-handed Red Ant Security guards'

Residents of Phola Park in Mfuleni raised concerns on Friday about the presence of private security guards in their community.

According to residents, Red Ant Security has been stationed in the area for the past three years to guard a small piece of city-owned land belonging to a nearby school.

However, community members claimed that the guards were demolishing makeshift toilets built by families who do not have access to proper sanitation, water, or electricity.

ALSO READ:

Protesting Emfuleni residents torch bus, resulting in driver's injuries

Golden Arrow condemns brazen torching of bus in Mfuleni

People began moving onto the city-owned land during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 as many struggled to find accommodation.

Residents took to the streets on Friday, protesting against the deployment of the private security company and the demolition of their informal structures.

Community leaders called on Red Ant Security to focus only on guarding the school property and to stay away from homes.

"There's no informal settlement here in Cape Town where people are not allowed to extend their structures and build toilets for themselves."

However, Ward Councillor Mongezi Madikane said the land was earmarked for houses for 800 families from Mfuleni.

"We cannot allow Red Ants Security to move and the entire land, which is also earmarked for a school, to be utilised illegally. It will be the community that is going to have a shortage of schools, and that is the challenge we are sitting with," Madikane said.

A Golden Arrow bus was also torched during Friday's protest.