Collaboration between law enforcement, govt will help address Joburg’s hijacked buildings crisis - Mabaso

JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg’s Human Settlements MMC, Mlungisi Mabaso, said a collaborative effort between law enforcement and relevant government agencies will help address the complex challenges posed by the scourge of hijacked buildings in the metro.

This came as Sunday’s deadly fire in Jeppestown raised critical questions about the metro's progress in dealing with the crisis of hijacked buildings in the inner city.

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Four people lost their lives when a three-storey building burnt down, leaving over 200 residents displaced, due to what is believed to be illegal electricity connections.

This latest tragedy comes less than a week before the one-year anniversary of the Usindiso building fire in Marshalltown, which killed 77 people.

Speaking on 702's Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa on Monday morning, Mabaso said that without more intervention, the city's hands were tied.

"We appreciated the commitment that was made by the premier and the national government to say they will be coming to assist in the inner city to deal with these challenges that the municipality has been battling to address. I think that collaborative effort will assist us in realising these programmes that we have always been introducing in the inner city."