HOUSING CRISIS IN HOUSING CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA

Thirteen years after an ANC led Thirteen years after an ANC led Government came into power promising Government came into power promising new homes for millions of the country’s new homes for millions of the country’s poor south Africa still faces a housing poor south Africa still faces a housing crisis. Millions still live in squatter camps. crisis. Millions still live in squatter camps. The Government has set an agenda to The Government has set an agenda to provide adequate housing for every one by provide adequate housing for every one by 2014.In my quest to understand this issue 2014.In my quest to understand this issue I joined the dreaded Red ants as they I joined the dreaded Red ants as they removed shack dwellers from a camp.removed shack dwellers from a camp.

There are hundreds of people living in squatter camps with no proper There are hundreds of people living in squatter camps with no proper house. Water, power and sanitation are elusive in this kind of house. Water, power and sanitation are elusive in this kind of environmentenvironment

The Infamous squad of red ants are currently moving out hundreds of people The Infamous squad of red ants are currently moving out hundreds of people living in shacks around the country. Mostly they have a commander called the living in shacks around the country. Mostly they have a commander called the Sheriff who runs the operationSheriff who runs the operation

A shack could be a small tin house measuring 3 meter by 3 meter and occupied A shack could be a small tin house measuring 3 meter by 3 meter and occupied by a family of 4 or more. The red ants arrive early in the morning and take the by a family of 4 or more. The red ants arrive early in the morning and take the residents by surprise demolishing their shacks and removing their belongingsresidents by surprise demolishing their shacks and removing their belongings

Sometimes there is fierce resistance from the occupants and Police have to be Sometimes there is fierce resistance from the occupants and Police have to be called in like in Durban Deep squatter camp when Police had to shoot in the air called in like in Durban Deep squatter camp when Police had to shoot in the air to disperse the residents who were resisting being moved out of their shacksto disperse the residents who were resisting being moved out of their shacks

Residents take it upon themselves to arm themselves and fight the Red ants. Residents take it upon themselves to arm themselves and fight the Red ants.

Their mission is protect the only home they haveTheir mission is protect the only home they have lived to know.lived to know.

8 year old Niko Mkabelo a Mozambican immigrant looks after the 8 year old Niko Mkabelo a Mozambican immigrant looks after the

family'sfamily's household items after they have been thrown out by the red ants.household items after they have been thrown out by the red ants.

When the shacks have been demolished and one looks at the household items When the shacks have been demolished and one looks at the household items thrown all over it’s evidence that the shack dwellers aspire to live a descent life thrown all over it’s evidence that the shack dwellers aspire to live a descent life

and they have aspirations and needs like any other human being.and they have aspirations and needs like any other human being.