Listen to this article.
By Anita Dangazele
- More than 2,800 shacks and 800 brick houses are being demolished by the Agriculture Research Council, claiming residents refused to leave.
- Families say they were never warned, and some were forced to leave behind furniture, windows and other valuables as bulldozers rolled in.
Thousands of people in Bongweni near King Phalo Airport in East London watched in shock as bulldozers flattened their homes this week.
Crews arrived again on Wednesday to continue demolishing shacks and brick houses. The demolitions are part of a court order obtained by the Agriculture Research Council (ARC), which owns the land.
The ARC claims it warned residents to leave by 26 February 2025, but many people say they never received any notice.
“I’ve lived here with my family since 1987. No one warned us,” said one woman, who asked not to be named.
Families were given a few hours to remove furniture and building materials. Some managed to save aluminium doors, but many had to leave behind brand new windows and other belongings.
The ARC plans to demolish over 2,800 shacks and at least 800 brick houses.
The land was once used for growing oranges and hemp in the 1950s, but it stood unused for more than 30 years. In court, the ARC argued that it is still part of its research operations and must be protected.
In June, the ARC told residents to stop building on the land and got a court interdict in November. It carried out the demolitions with the help of the Red Ants.
Some residents admit they knew about the court case but say they were never directly told to leave.
Lawyer Zolani Madukuda, who represents the residents, said he got a court order to stop the demolitions, but the sheriff went ahead anyway.
“The ARC knows the matter is still in court,” he said.
Buffalo City Metro distanced itself from the operation. Spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said the demolitions were not authorised by the municipality, and there are no relocation plans.
“BCM has no agreements allowing people to live or build on that land,” he said.
Police are on site to prevent violence.
Pictured above: Residents watching helplessly as their homes are demolished in Bongweni, East London.
Image source: Supplied
