Germiston Resident Dismisses Claims That They Are Occupying Pharoe Flats Illegally
- A member of the community in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, has challenged the Ekurhuleni Municipality's stance on the recently evicted occupants
- Community members clashed with the South African Police Service and burned down the Department of Home Affairs after they were evicted
- The woman claimed that they were not occupying the property illegally, and South Africans debated
Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.
Source: Twitter
GERMISTON, EKURHULENI — A member of the Germiston community challenged the Ekurhuleni Local Municipality's stance that the residents who were evicted from the Pharoe Flats on 12 August 2025 were illegal occupants.
Speaking to eNCA, the resident said that community members were puzzled by the narrative that they resided in the flats illegally. She said the residents who were evicted have been living there for over 20 years.
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She said that the residents who lived in the flats received lease agreements from the Ekurhuleni Housing Company and received a permit. She asked how the allegedly illegal hijackers were able to access the flats because the security company on the property is contracted by the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
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"They are exposing themselves to the maladministration they are doing," she said.
She said that the Ekurhuleni Housing Company has changed names on numerous occasions over the years, and each name change came with a different account number where they deposited their rents. She also said that the prepaid meters the municipality gave them were not registered in their names.
What happened in Germiston?
Protesters reportedly torched the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston on 12 August. The residents allegedly demanded to occupy Pharoe Park flats without paying rent and were unhappy with a series of court-ordered evictions at the flats.
Source: Twitter
A violent protest also broke out in Deipkloof in Soweto on 19 May 2025. Residents protested over a lack of service delivery, and two people died when the protest turned violent.
What did South Africans say?
South Africans commenting on Facebook debated the woman's comments.
Melanie Ivy O'Brien said:
"You become illegal when you don't pay rent and the property belongs to someone else. That is the law."
Kabelo Peter Masiu said:
"You have a responsibility to pay rent for your lease agreement to be enforced. Did you pay your rent?"
Brsd Froud said:
"Then show the proof of payment to the landlord. It's simple."
Tdee ZA said:
"Proof of payments and per it to occupy can resolve this issue."
Moeketsi Keke Nhlapo asked:
"What happens when we find out they were paying, but someone was pocketing the payment?"
Gauteng learners protest following assault of learners
In a related article, Briefly News reported that learners at Thuto Lesedi Secondary School protested on 23 July 2025 after a grade eight learner was assaulted by another group of learners. The protesters damaged the school fence.
The suspects reportedly assaulted the victim for his school bag and broke his nose in the process. The learners were suspended.
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Source: Briefly News
