Alex residents left destitute after unsuccessful attempt to occupy vacant containers

JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of Alexandra families spent the night on the streets in the rain after they were evicted by the City of Johannesburg from containers they had occupied.

Earlier this week, Eyewitness News reported on a looming housing crisis after residents inhabited vacant containers that had not been used for over five years. 

The containers were put in to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by moving residents out of densely populated areas in Alexandra.

But when no one was moved, some residents took it upon themselves to occupy the vacant property. 

READ: Alex housing crisis mounting as residents attempt to occupy vacant containers

A standoff between Johannesburg metro police, public order officials, and private security guards saw residents of Alexandra evicted from housing containers on 4th Avenue on Tuesday.

Families looked on helplessly as officers took their clothes and furniture and put them on the street.

Resident, Louis Dlamini said destitute community members forced their way into the containers.

"They came back yesterday without any documentation. The people were evicted forcefully. The police were not willing to negotiate."

Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, who blocked Main Road and Marlboro Drive with bricks and burning tyres during the eviction.

"There was a shooting and I think about eight women were injured, and four kids had to get medical attention at Masakhane Clinic. People things were thrown out. It was raining."

It’s unclear what the city plans to do with the container homes despite the project's more than R500 million budget.