Poverty & lack of affordable housing contribute to hijacked buildings in Joburg, commission finds

JOHANNESBURG - The Usindiso Commission of Inquiry investigating the deadly building fire in Johannesburg has found that the prevalence of hijacked buildings is driven largely by poverty and lack of affordable housing.

The commission’s final report shows that the common assumption that buildings are hijacked purely for profit by so-called slumlords is wrong.

ALSO READ: CoJ’s failure to manage abandoned buildings could see repeat of Usindiso building fire: Activists

The Gauteng government is on Wednesday releasing the commission’s final findings.

The inquiry, chaired by retire justice Sisi Khampepe, was tasked with investigating the root causes of hijacked buildings in Gauteng following the Usindiso tragedy, where 76 people died during a fire.

Speaking during a media briefing, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the commissioners inspected 110 hijacked buildings in the province.

“The investigation challenges the common assumption that hijacked buildings are the primary problem. Evidence shows that only a small minority, 5.7% had allegations of rent collection by non-owners. The crisis is instead driven by extreme poverty and a severe lack of affordable housing, forcing people into unsafe living conditions.”