Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero says organised criminal syndicates are driving the city’s ongoing hijacked buildings crisis, as authorities step up efforts to reclaim illegally occupied properties in the inner city.
The metro currently has an estimated 200 hijacked buildings, many of which are unlawfully occupied and controlled by criminal groups. These structures have been linked to unsafe living conditions, overcrowding and a lack of access to basic services, creating what officials describe as both a humanitarian and public safety concern.
Morero said the municipality is working closely with the South African Police Service and other stakeholders to dismantle the syndicates and address the broader challenges tied to the problem.
“We need to accelerate the programmes we are implementing in the inner city,” Morero said. “The challenge of hijacked buildings is significant, and we are focusing on the most problematic ones.”
He noted, however, that legal obligations complicate the process of clearing buildings. A Constitutional Court ruling requires the city to provide alternative accommodation to residents before evacuations can take place.
At the same time, Morero emphasised that criminal elements exploiting these properties must be tackled decisively.
“There are large syndicates involved in hijacking buildings, and we need to work with SAPS to crack down on them,” he said.
The city has pledged to intensify its interventions as it seeks to restore order to the inner city, a task officials say requires balancing law enforcement with social support for vulnerable residents.