City of Johannesburg’s Delayed Action on Hijacked Buildings Raises Concerns
Amidst the growing problem of hijacked buildings in the city, the City of Johannesburg’s delayed and somewhat lax approach in tackling the issue is coming under the spotlight. An instance that magnifies this concern is the recent arrest of a city councillor along with 22 other suspects for hijacking a R40m metro property.
This property, intended for the metro police, has been highlighted as a potential site for sheltering the victims of a devastating fire that took 77 lives in a hijacked five-storey building in the city’s central business district. The tragedy underscores the dire consequences of the municipality’s inaction on the problem of illegal building occupations.
Executive Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda’s recent comments suggest an intensified crackdown on the illegally occupied and hijacked buildings. “Our approach to illegality is now driven with greater urgency and firmness,” he said, indicating a shift to a zero-tolerance approach. Yet, these assertive claims are in stark contrast to the city’s past record on the issue.
Further casting doubt on the city’s commitment to resolving this issue, the preliminary investigations by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) suggest the potential involvement of a senior SA Police Service member in the property invasion.
Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba highlighted the scale of the problem, revealing that over “600 hijacked buildings” were identified in the city’s central business district during his tenure. Only 154 of these had been addressed and handed to the private sector for redevelopment into affordable housing by the time he left office in 2019.
Gauteng human settlements MEC Lebogang Maile’s statement on requiring court orders for evictions further highlights the administrative and legal challenges that add layers of complexity to the issue. “We are a law-abiding government,” he emphasized.
However, with the rising number of hijacked buildings and the resulting consequences, the pressing question remains: Has the City of Johannesburg been proactive and decisive enough in addressing the problem?