Tears, cold nights, and desperation now define the lives of several former tenants of Pharoe Park in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, after they were forcibly evicted from their flats and left to sleep on the streets.
The eviction, carried out by the City of Ekurhuleni on the night of Tuesday, August 12, came after the municipality accused residents of failing to pay rent and electricity bills. But for those affected, the removal was more than just an administrative decision — it was a descent into chaos and vulnerability.
With their furniture still strewn across the pavement, residents say they have nowhere to go. “We slept outside. We don’t even know where we’ll be tonight,” one evictee shared, wrapped in a blanket near the building’s entrance.
To make matters worse, several residents allege that their belongings were stolen during the eviction process, compounding their already dire circumstances. The scene outside Pharoe Park has turned into a painful display of broken homes, scattered possessions, and unanswered pleas for help.
The City has stood by its decision, citing non-payment as the reason for the action. But the evictees argue that no alternative accommodation or support was offered, leaving families — including children — exposed and traumatized.
As public pressure builds, questions now swirl around the city’s handling of the situation: Should more humane processes have been followed? Where will these residents go now? And how many more vulnerable tenants are one missed payment away from the same fate?
For the evictees of Pharoe Park, the answer is heartbreakingly clear — they are out in the cold, and the city has turned its back.
