Public Works Ministry promises to reclaim hijacked govt buildings, attend to abandoned ones

DURBAN - The Public Works and Infrastructure Ministry says it will reclaim hijacked government buildings and attend to abandoned buildings in parts of the country.

Newly appointed Minister Dean Macpherson said the government could no longer allow criminals to make financial gains from its property illegally.

Some government buildings in the Point area, in Durban's CBD, have been illegally occupied for over 20 years, with some still being supplied with water and electricity.

Macpherson, who also hails from the province, recently conducted inspections and vowed to end this situation.

Macpherson said the process would begin with evictions.

"I have been absolutely clear that the government will make no room or accommodation for construction mafia or people who wish to hijack our buildings and then rent them out. I have also been very firm that where our buildings are illegally occupied, we need to start legal processes to have those individuals evicted."

The minister said he would implement the same strategy in all provinces facing a similar problem.