Public Works and Infrastructure Ministry notes almost 400 hijacked buildings countrywide

DURBAN - The Public Works and Infrastructure Ministry has revealed there are around 388 hijacked buildings countrywide.

When the 7th administration started in June this year, the department committed to auditing government-owned buildings to identify the illegally occupied ones.

Some of the buildings are illegally accommodating people while the government pays for the rates.

Around 50 of these have been identified in the Durban CBD.

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Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean McPherson says the process of reclaiming more buildings has started.

“We are determined to work with local government to rectify that.”

Mcpherson says hijacked buildings are contributing to crime.

“Whenever you have an occupied building, whether it be in the city centre or a suburb that contributes to urban decay and crime. We’ve seen that.”