City of Joburg MMC for Human Settlements Mlungisi Mabaso said the eviction of over 400 residents from the hijacked Moth building in Braamfontein is meant to help avoid a similar situation as that of Usindiso, where many people lost lives after it caught fire.

SAVING LIVES

Mabaso said they first approached the courts in order to gain access to the building.

"We needed entry so that we could assess the living conditions of the tenants and the state of the building. Upon assessment we discovered that the building was beyond repair and needed urgent attention."

Mabaso said after the assessments, the city went back to court to argue its case around the condition of the building .

"The court then granted the COJ an evacuation order so that we could take over the building for us to attend to all the issues including the engineering aspect which revealed that the building must be condemned. The building is beyond repair and must be re-developed if people are still to reside there,"he said.

IT WAS TEMPORARY 

Mabaso confirmed that the people who resided at Moth building were placed there in 2010 during the world Cup.

"The City has a policy on the provision of temporary accommodation and it does not exceed 12 months. The residents were promised that after the 12 months they will be provided with permanent places of residence which did not happen at the time." He said that is why they decided to move them to Fleurhof .