'My kids cried all night': Families evicted from Germiston flats amid protests

A stranded mother of four, one of 422 families who were evicted from rental flats in Germiston on Tuesday morning, says her children cried all night as they were forced to sleep outside on the street with nowhere else to go.

The unrest followed court-ordered evictions at the Pharoe Park rental complex.

The evictions, enforced by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and SAPS, sparked an arson attack on the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston.

The low-cost rental flats are owned by the Ekurhuleni Housing Company (EHC), a municipal housing entity. 

The city reported that 422 tenants had defaulted on rent payments, prompting legal action and ultimately resulting in evictions.

However, some residents insist they were legal tenants and have been paying rent.

A father of four, who has lived in the flats since 2013 and works at the Post Office, said he was paying R4,890 per month.

“The municipality is lying that we occupied the flats illegally. We got there legally, and are paying rent,” the 40-year-old who did not want to be named said. 

He claimed that the city was not providing adequate services to the tenants at the flats.

“There are no security guards, and we have to pay R150 to R200 to people to clean, take out rubbish, patrol at night, and manage the gates. The city has not been providing any services.”

He said he and his family were forced to spend R400 to sleep at a local guesthouse on Tuesday night.

Another resident, a mother of four who also requested anonymity, who had been living in the flats since 2004, claimed that residents were promised ownership of the units after four years.

“They said after four years, we would stop paying rent and the flats would be ours…but that never happened. Now, when we apply for RDP houses, we’re told the flats we’re being evicted from are listed as our homes. That’s why we’re refusing to leave - they belong to us.”

They were forced to sleep outside as they had no alternative accommodation.

“My kids cried all night, because they were terrified about being thrown out. They didn’t even go to school on Tuesday and we had to sleep outside as we had nowhere else to stay.”

She added, “My wardrobe, drawers, glass TV stand and even glass plates were broken during the eviction. Some people were not even home at the time and their belongings were thrown out and damaged.”

Meanwhile, City of Ekurhuleni MMC for Human Settlements Kgopelo Hollo confirmed to IOL News that the eviction order was granted in June 2025.

“This issue has been ongoing for over five years. We noticed that many tenants had stopped paying rent,” Hollo said.

He clarified that the flats were built as rental units for people who earn less to qualify for fully subsidised RDP housing but are unable to buy property.

Rental prices range from R3,500 to R14,000, depending on income.

Hollo said the city has faced ongoing problems with non-payment. 

“There are about 440 flats in Pharoe Park that are paying rent and close to 20 tenants are not paying their rent and are causing a huge loss to the city.”

He added that some illegal occupants include municipal workers. 

“We tried to get court approval to deduct rent from their salaries, but the court ruled against it.”

The city, he said, loses around R1.5 million each month in services for non-paying tenants, which includes maintenance, security, and infrastructure repairs.

Hollo said no alternative accommodation would be provided for those deemed illegal occupants. 

However, tenants who had been paying but were in financial difficulty have been temporarily relocated to a community hall.

He denied claims that the flats would eventually belong to tenants. 

“There’s no such policy. We have checked our records, and there is nothing to suggest tenants were ever told they’d take ownership after four years. Even the claim that there are no services being provided to the flats are false,” he told IOL News.

He acknowledged the confusion around RDP housing applications, saying that the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) automatically registers rental stock occupants as property holders. 

“But if someone is no longer employed and can prove they have no income, their application can be reconsidered.”

Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza backed the evictions. 

“It’s about time leaders are firm. Allowing these situations to continue leads to lawlessness. Illegal occupation leads to further disorder and ultimately buildings falling into the wrong hands,” he told the media on Tuesday.

Gauteng police have since confirmed the arrest of two people for public violence in connection with the fire and protests. No injuries were reported.

City officials suspect arson but said a formal investigation will begin once the site is secured. 

Despite extensive fire and water damage to the Home Affairs building, all critical documents - such as smart ID cards and passports - were safeguarded.

Gauteng Home Affairs provincial manager Mamokubung Moroke said the most severe damage occurred on the first floor, which housed administrative and immigration services.

“This is a huge loss in terms of property and equipment. But documents are safe, as they were securely stored on the ground floor, which did not burn.”

However, she said the ground floor suffered significant water damage during firefighting efforts and that affected clients must resubmit documents.

Home Affairs services will temporarily continue through mobile trucks stationed at the Alberton and Boksburg offices, starting from Wednesday. 

Moroke added that priority will be given to those with prior appointments or those turned away due to the fire.

[email protected]

IOL News