| Country: | South Africa |
| Details of Formation: | The Red Ants were founded as a security company in 1998 by Johan Bosch. Evidence suggests that starting from 2001, municipalities throughout Africa hired private Red Ants security forces. |
| Details of Termination: | In 2020 the group was still active. |
| Purpose: | Various municipalities throughout South Africa contract the Red Ants for security provision and evictions. The main purpose of the Red Ants is to destroy people’s homes (and relocate them), in cases of illegal settlements, slums and immigrant housing. Regular actions of the Red Ants pursuing this purpose are reported. The city of Johannesburg used the house destruction strategy to alleviate underlying socioeconomic causes of crime and poverty and to prepare the city for visitors as in the 2010 World Cup. In Ekurhuleni, the company was additionally engaged to conduct patrols to counteract land invasions and evictions. |
| Organisation: | The authorities mandate the Red Ants security firm on a contract basis. According to the founder, owner and CEO of the Red Ants, Johan Bosch, almost every municipality in South Africa has hired the firm. In Johannesburg, the Red Ants company is supposed to receive weekly instalments from funds provided by the Johannesburg City Council. The operations which the Red Ants undertake are confirmed by court order. The Red Ants closely work together and act on behalf of the respective municipalities’ police departments. |
| Weapons and Training: | Red Ants are armed with crowbars, shields, firearms, handguns and pump action shotguns firing rubber bullets. They also have visored helmets, batons, gloves and protective clothing. |
| Size: | A news source of June 2001 speaks of 200 security guards, but this is a total of Red Ants and another private company, and it is unclear how many were exactly Red Ants members. A news source of May 2002 mentions 300 Red Ants members involved in an operation near Soweto. In 2010, a news source suggests that the number of members has been growing, without providing further details. In 2018, 650 men from the Red Ants conducted an eviction in Pretoria. |
| Reason for Membership: | Being hired by the Red Ants security firm, members are paid $10 a day. With most members being young, uneducated, and poor, aiming to earn money seems to be the main reason for joining the company. The strong loyalty and the community aspect among the employees are also highlighted. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group is involved in the destruction of people’s homes by orders of the authorities. Human rights campaigners repeatedly criticize the group, as they use excessive force in conducting these operations. Evictions frequently result in violent clashes between the residents and the group’s members, during which the Red Ants throw rocks, fire rubber bullets and beat the residents. Several cases are reported in which residents were beaten to death by Red Ants or died from injuries sustained in the clashes. The group is also accused of rape and theft. According to reports, the group stole clothes, money, food, ID documents, cell phones, laptops, and fridges. |
| Other Information: | The firm, whose full name is Red Ant Security Relocation & Eviction Services, is based on a farm in Gauteng. The name “red ants” was given to the group based on the colour of their overalls. The group members often wear half-masks. |
| References: | Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD |