Lack of Action on Building Hijackings in Joburg Led to Tragic Fire

The recent tragic fire in Johannesburg that claimed the lives of 74 people has raised serious concerns about the city’s neglect of building inspections and the longstanding issue of building hijackings. The building in question had not been inspected since 2019 when it was hijacked. Rapulane Monageng, acting chief of Joburg emergency medical services, revealed that before this last inspection, the city, fire safety officials, and other stakeholders ensured that the building complied with safety regulations. However, subsequent inspections were postponed due to the hostile environment created by building hijackers and legal battles as reported by the Sowetan Live.

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The building in Marshalltown had previously served as a shelter for vulnerable women and children before being hijacked. The city had attempted eviction, but litigation thwarted their efforts. The problem of building hijackings in Johannesburg has persisted since around 2008, with numerous mayors promising to address it over the years.

The mayors who made these promises include Amos Masondo, Parks Tau, Herman Mashaba, Jolidee Matongo, Mpho Moerane, Mpho Phalatse, and Thapelo Amad. Despite their assurances, the authorities have made little progress in tackling this escalating issue.

City manager Clint Brink explained that the city had previously leased the building to the provincial Department of Social Development as a shelter for abused women. However, the building was invaded and hijacked at the end of the lease agreement. In 2019, a police raid arrested about 140 foreign nationals for illegally collecting rent from tenants, but there was no further information on their legal status.

The fire incident resulted in 74 fatalities, including 12 children and 62 adults, with 10 people burned beyond recognition. Many injured individuals were admitted to various hospitals, where 16 have already been discharged. The city is working to provide social and psychological support to the affected families through disaster management and a team of 16 social workers.

Over the years, mayors have made promises to combat building hijackings, but the problem has persisted. These hijackings involve the illegal takeover of properties by criminals who collect rent from tenants without providing essential services such as water, electricity, refuse removal, and sanitation.

Amos Masondo, who served as mayor between 2001 and 2011, pledged to address building hijackings during his tenure. In 2010, he promised to rid the inner city of hijackers and prosecute them by the end of the financial year, but progress was limited.

Parks Tau, mayor from 2011 to 2016, also acknowledged the problem and reported arrests and court cases related to hijackings. However, the issue continued.

Herman Mashaba, mayor from 2017 to 2019, made efforts to return hijacked buildings to their rightful owners, labeling building hijackings as a humanitarian crisis. His administration conducted audits on 500 buildings and identified 134 as illegally occupied.

Jolidee Matongo, who served as mayor briefly in August and September 2021, expressed frustration with the slow progress in resolving the hijacking problem, citing issues with the Joburg Property Company.

In 2021, Mpho Moerane introduced the Inner City Regeneration Charter, which aimed to eliminate dilapidated and hijacked buildings by 2015. However, the failure of the project was attributed to building owners’ reluctance to rehabilitate their properties or allow the city to take control of them.

Mpho Phalatse, who served as mayor from November 2021 to January 2023, initiated actions to reclaim hijacked buildings, particularly in the central business district. Abandoned by their owners and controlled by criminal syndicates, these buildings were rented out without payment of rates and taxes. If the owners couldn’t be located, the city planned to convert the buildings into affordable housing, promoting economic opportunities for residents.

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