The executive mayor of the City of Joburg, Dada Morero, says more than 100 people evacuated from a hijacked building in the CBD will be moved to rental flats in Fleurhof on the West Rand. The residents were evacuated yesterday as part of the city's rejuvenation programme, aimed at addressing the issue of hijacked properties in the city.

RECLAIMING THE CITY

Morero explained that the city council obtained evacuation orders for the nine buildings around the CBD and Braamfontein where the people were evacuated. "The city acquired alternative buildings to provide temporary shelter for the evacuated occupants. We have been engaging with the communities here, who are staying in a hijacked building, which is property owned now by the City of Johannesburg, and throughout the engagement, we have concluded that we will move the residents to an area in Fleurhof, where we've got proper rental stock," he said.

PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED

City spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said these operations mark a significant step in the city's efforts to revitalise the inner city and restore dignity to its residents. "While the city acknowledges its constitutional obligations regarding emergency accommodation, it also places responsibility on private property owners who neglect property maintenance while continuing to collect rent. The city is committed to finding sustainable solutions that balance the needs of property owners, tenants and the community at large. This proactive measure aims to mitigate the risk of displacement and prevent disasters such as the Usindiso Building and Jeppestown fire incidents," he said.