Steen Villa residents evicted as lockdown looms

A number of tenants at Steen Villa social housing complex in Military Road, Retreat, were subjected to evictions this morning as Covid 19 infections sky rocket in South Africa as a result of the Omicron variant.

A private security company authorised by the Sheriff of the court broke down doors and started evicting tenants before 9am. Riot police from the public order policing unit observed as the operation proceeded.

Melanie Philander, a Steen Villa resident, said it is inhumane to evict children and people with disabilities. Philander claimed that a woman who had a heart operation was on the eviction list.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to convene the National Coronavirus Command Council tomorrow when he returns from West Africa. He is expected to take the country on a higher alert level as South Africa prepares for the annual migration to coastal areas during the festive season.

Yesterday South Africa had 6381 new Covid 19 infections. Most of the new infections were as a result of the Omicron variant.