Sowetan: Eviction mayhem hits Jozi

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=746192

Eviction mayhem hits Jozi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

AFTERMATH: Evicted people yesterday searched for leftovers in the rubble of their belongings in Plein Street, Johannesburg. PHOTO: VELI NHLAPO

Children, oblivious to their parents’ plight, romped on mattresses in Plein Street, Johannesburg, yesterday as their guardians tried to piece together their lives.

About 100 people are living on the street after 600 illegal tenants were evicted from the hijacked Barclays building in the city centre on Wednesday.

“I do not know anyone else in Johannesburg. The people I know were staying in the same building and we are all homeless,” S’bonginkosi Mpofu said while changing her baby’s nappy.

The 19-year-old mother said she did not have money to buy food and clothes for her 11-month-old daughter.

“My baby would not have eaten had it no been for a passer-by who gave me money to buy her something to eat,” Mpofu said.

Two women, who had babies strapped to their backs, said they had not bathed nor changed their clothes since the eviction.

Some of the homeless people said guards had stolen their belongings when they were kicked out, but the security guards on duty denied it.