CoJ evacuating hijacked buildings after Usindiso fire
Johannesburg’s formerly swanky city centre’s abandoned buildings are increasingly hazardous.
Johannesburg emergency services attend to a fire in the Johannesburg CBD on 31 August 2023. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
Bongani Bingwa speaks with Mlimandlela Ndamase, Spokesperson for Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
The City of Gold has lost its shine, becoming home to dangerous properties unfit for human habitation.
Owners are abandoning formerly swanky buildings, which then get taken over by desperate people looking for shelter.
Nobody pays rates and taxes, and the buildings get no services.
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Ndamase says that the City of Johannesburg is investigating 188 potentially hijacked buildings.
He says that they are going to the courts to request permission to evacuate people from these buildings as they are not safe, rather than seeking eviction orders.
“Since Usindiso, we have presented before the courts 11 cases, and we have received nine positive outcomes… and are awaiting an additional two judgements.”
- Mlimandlela Ndamase
“There are many Usindiso’s waiting to happen. There is a huge fire risk in the city.”
- Mlimandlela Ndamase
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.