Unsafe Living and Rent Scams at Centre of Joburg Evacuation Plan

The City of Johannesburg is preparing to remove illegal occupants from 11 hijacked buildings it owns, following growing concerns over hazardous living conditions and overcrowding.

Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso visited several of these properties in Hillbrow on Wednesday, including Casa Mia on Soper Street, which he confirmed is under an active evacuation order. Conditions inside the buildings are dire—leaking sewage, broken windows, piles of garbage, and overcrowding are common.

Casa Mia, like the others, is municipal-owned but illegally occupied, with many of its residents believed to be undocumented migrants. Inside, officials found recyclable materials such as bottles and cardboard, which occupants said they collect and sell to survive.

“We are just trying to make a living,” said one resident who claimed to have been there for over three years. He denied the occupation was illegal, stating they paid rent to an individual who allegedly forwarded the money to the building’s owner.

But Mabaso was clear: “Casa Mia belongs to the City, and no one has permission to collect rent or live there,” he said.

He estimated that around 250 people live in Casa Mia, with 54 already relocated by the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO). The city is still looking to relocate approximately 200 others.

Evacuations will begin once alternative accommodation is available. Mabaso said the city is identifying other municipal buildings that could be converted into safe housing.

“We must secure all 11 buildings. Once vacated, we barricade and protect them from reoccupation. Renovation planning is already underway for buildings cleared last November,” he added.

The broader issue of hijacked buildings in Joburg remains urgent. According to Mabaso, the city estimates around 19,000 people are in need of alternative housing. The backlog has been worsened by over 100 court cases where the city has been ordered to provide emergency shelter—but lacks capacity.

Public awareness of the crisis surged in August 2023 when 77 people were killed in a fire at the hijacked Usindiso building in Marshalltown.

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Sourced:IOL

Picture: Visa Pour l’image