Johannesburg - Hundreds of residents of a hijacked building in downtown Joburg are facing a bleak, dark night out in the cold as they were evicted on Wednesday.
Men, women and children from Fattis Mansions were forced to sit outside on the streets with all their belongings as the sheriff of the South Gauteng High Court executed an order, assisted by the Red Ants, to evict them.
The evictions began at around 11am.
The building, dubbed "mnyamandowo", on the corner of Jeppe and Harrison street has no electricity or water, and no ablution facilities. Security guards have been posted to bar the entrance of the building.
"We are just waiting for the dark and these security guards will know," a woman who was evicted said.
In their bid to return to the building, the residents launched an urgent court interdict at 6pm against the evictions. The application was still being heard.
Meanwhile, two weeks ago, seven people died when a similar building, Cape York, caught fire in the same street. The former residents have been now relocated to a temporary accommodation in tents in a vacant land near Wembley Stadium.
A scuffle ensues between the evicted people as they accuse each other of stealing their belongings.
VIDEO: Siphelele Dludla/ANA Reporter