Residents accuse syndicate of selling municipal land as Randhart illegal structures spread

Residents in Randhart, Alberton, say a syndicate is selling municipal land, and that shacks and other structures have rapidly appeared while irregular water and electricity connections spread across the area. A City of Ekurhuleni preliminary report says 18 properties in Randhart are under investigation for alleged contraventions of the National Building Regulations and municipal bylaws.

Allegations of organised land sales

A resident who asked not to be named told journalists:

“There is a syndicate selling government-owned land in Alberton’s Randhart suburb.”

The same resident said municipal and provincial authorities were warned in February 2026 but that no action had stopped the activities. The resident also said one person allegedly marketing the land was identified via Facebook Marketplace and alleged a price of R650 000 for a 1 000m2 stand was being advertised.

FF+ councillor raises alarm and documents changes on the ground

Freedom Front Plus councillor Rudolf Herbst in the Ekurhuleni metro said he was contacted by Alberton residents reporting that people were erecting structures on municipal land and connecting to water and electricity services. He said affected areas included Randhart Extension 2 and surrounds.

Herbst said the city real estate department escalated a Randhart Extension 2 land invasion matter to the Gauteng department of infrastructure and development on 20 February. He said the department indicated the matter had been referred to its risk management unit and that the problem was worsening:

“As at 10 September, 202 days have passed since that documented escalation,”

he said.

Evidence of unauthorised connections and rapid construction

During a visit to the area, Herbst said he observed building work, boundary construction, the installation of water meters and irregular service connections. He said he recorded identifiable meter serial numbers, including meters installed on erven that appeared vacant on the city’s geographic information system.

Herbst also said he observed equipment marked “Joburg Water” on site and found what he described as an apparent electricity connection at the base of a streetlight pole. He said residents reported that Ekurhuleni officials had visited some affected areas and disconnected some meters or connections regarded as irregular.

Herbst added that the situation was changing quickly, saying

“After I left the area, residents reported that building was continuing,”

and he recorded that work and new connections were still taking place.

Call for multi-department intervention

Herbst called for a coordinated response involving a list of city and provincial functions, and requested that a lead city official and a lead department of infrastructure and development official be appointed. He asked for a joint site inspection and for immediate safety inspections at erf 1642, erf 1648 and a hydrant connection.

In correspondence to the authorities, Herbst also requested the preservation and tracing of water meter evidence and a consolidated written response from the relevant departments.

Allegations of unauthorised hydrant use

The anonymous resident alleged that illegally occupied land was being supplied with water through unauthorised connections to the fire hydrant system in Randhart.

Official investigation

A preliminary report by the City of Ekurhuleni states that 18 properties in Randhart are under investigation for alleged contraventions of the National Building Regulations and municipal bylaws.

Authorities named in requests for coordinated action include the Gauteng department of infrastructure and development, the city real estate department, planning and building control, water and sanitation, finance and revenue, energy, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, emergency services, legal services and risk, and internal forensics.