21 March 2011 Last updated at 01:12

In pictures: South Africa's ruthless 'Red Ants' eviction squad

A member of the Red Ants on his way to and eviction in downtown Johannesburg

South Africa's many thousands of squatters live in fear of a security firm called the "Red Ants" known of their ruthless approach to evictions.

Red Ants in Durban deep an mining area, west of Johannesburg

The squad is usually hired by the government or property owners to remove people from private land or condemned buildings. They arrive on the scene carrying crow-bars, or even guns - and all clad in red overalls and helmets.

The company has faced a lot of criticism over the years for using violence and heavy-handed tactics during their raids. But Wozani - the firm's official name - says this is necessary.

A policeman guards crowd of people evicted from mining property west of Johannesburg

In many instances those being evicted stage strong resistance. The stand-offs can go on for hours and the police are often called in to restore calm.

Armed police during stand-off between angry crowds and the Red Ants

"People need to understand that they are not dealing with a group of sissies who will stand by and watch as people throw stones at them,” Wozani's head Dennis Klaasen told the BBC.

Belongings strewn on the ground after an eviction

Both the Red Ants and the government have been criticised by human rights activists for not ensuring that people have alternative accommodation, but Mr Klaasen says this is up to the courts to decide.

Eight-year-old Niko Mkabelo guarding his families belongings

"I have nowhere to go and no way of contacting my parents," says eight-year-old Niko Mkabelo, a Mozambican immigrant separated from his family when their shack was destroyed west of Johannesburg. A mining company is said to have re-possessed the land from the squatters.

Red Ants in Durban deep, west of Johannesburg

The Red Ants usually strike at the crack of dawn when people least expect them. Residents of a flat in central Johannesburg say they were forced out of their rooms half-dressed and were not given time to collect their belongings.

“If you live in a top-floor flat and you cannot get your household goods down the stairs, the only alternative you have is to throw them out of the window,” one man in Johannesburg said.

Some of those accused illegally occupying buildings are foreign nationals

Some evictions are ordered because the buildings house illegal migrants. This group of blind Zimbabweans were living with others in a dilapidated flat in central Johannesburg before their eviction.

Evicted from privately owned mining land west of Johannesburg

Many of those evicted are left homeless. When it is cold, some light fires with wood from their destroyed furniture to keep warm.

Red Ants inside a flat in downtown, Johannesburg

South Africa's government says it is working on building houses for all of the country's homeless by 2014, but many in Johannesburg are praying for a more immediate solution. (Photos and words by Antony Kaminju)

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In pictures: South Africa's ruthless 'Red Ants' eviction squad

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