Maile on ridding Joburg CBD of hijacked buildings: Private sector must come on aboard
A commission of inquiry is currently sitting to investigate the prevalence of hijacked properties in the city of gold and the living conditions therein.
A view of a hijacked building in the Johannesburg CBD. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile has urged the private sector to work with the government to address the spate of hijacked buildings in Joburg’s inner city.
This comes on the back of the raging fire that tore through the illegally occupied Usindiso building in Marshalltown last year and killed 76 people.
A commission of inquiry is currently sitting to investigate the prevalence of hijacked properties in the city of gold and the living conditions therein.
Maile was speaking to Eyewitness News moments after he handed over new homes and title deeds to elderly people in Ekurhuleni.
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The commission of inquiry into the Marshalltown fire has heard that hijacked properties in Johannesburg are a disaster waiting to happen, as most of them undermine health and safety guidelines.
Maile said while the government is addressing this, the rightful owners of hijacked buildings also need to play their part.
"That’s why we have to be proactive and prevent people from staying there illegally. We wouldn’t allow people to stay in conditions that are not conducive."
The Marshalltown fire inquiry has been appointed to establish who is to blame for the scourge of hijacked buildings in the city centre.
On Tuesday, a witness in the inquiry alleged that local councillors were involved in facilitating illegal occupations at the Usindiso building