By Duncan Mnisi
Germiston, Gauteng — Calm has returned to Pharoe Park in Germiston after a week of unrest sparked by mass evictions from municipal rental units and a fiery protest that saw a government building set ablaze. The incident has underscored ongoing tensions between authorities and communities over housing and law enforcement.
On Tuesday, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police and SAPS forcibly removed 422 residents accused of illegal occupation and non-payment of rent, with only about 13% of tenants reportedly meeting their financial obligations. MMC for Human Settlements Kgopelo Hollo explained that the flats, owned by the Ekurhuleni Housing Company, were originally intended for low-income residents earning above the threshold for subsidized housing. He added that the eviction was authorized by a court order due to significant rent arrears, which amount to roughly R1.5 million each month.
The eviction was met with fierce resistance, including protests that culminated in demonstrators setting fire to the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston. According to provincial authorities, important documents — including IDs and passports — were saved from the blaze. Two individuals have been arrested for public violence, and investigations into the fire are ongoing.
Displaced families, including a mother of four and a man who claims to have paid rent regularly, shared emotional accounts of hardship. One resident, who has lived at Pharoe Park since 2013, said he paid his R4,890 rent consistently but received little in the way of municipal services. The distress was compounded when belongings were damaged or discarded during the eviction, leaving children crying in the cold.
City officials defended their actions, citing the legal basis for the eviction and asserting that the flats are properly maintained. They also noted that tenants facing genuine hardship have been temporarily relocated to community halls. However, tensions remain high, raising questions about housing policy, tenant rights, and the broader social impact of such enforcement measures.
As community anger simmers, authorities remain steadfast in their efforts to restore order and curb unlawful occupation. Meanwhile, affected residents continue to grapple with the trauma of displacement amid ongoing debates over affordable housing and social justice in Germiston.
