ActionSA vows to address hijacked buildings in the City of Ekurhuleni

8 February 2023

ActionSA vows to continue placing pressure on the City of Ekurhuleni to address the scourge of hijacked buildings in the city, and the disconnection of illegal electricity and water connections to hijacked buildings.

The ActionSA City of Ekurhuleni Caucus will furthermore assist the Germiston Business Forum in setting up an improvement district within the city to address safety and cleaning in the Germiston Central Business District (CBD) and ensure that the City of Ekurhuleni gives it the support it deserves.

This after myself, ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, Bongani Baloyi, ActionSA Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader, Tlhogi Moseki, and members of the ActionSA City of Ekurhuleni Caucus met with the Germiston Business Forum and visited a number of hijacked buildings in the city where residents lived in inhumane conditions.

The visit came after ActionSA’s intervention in January led to the successful arrest of an illegal immigrant who hijacked a residential property in Primrose, Germiston.

During the visit to the hijacked buildings, I met with Mr Eric Sithole who recounted how his property was illegally hijacked, and that to remain in good financial standing, he had to continue paying the bond on property that he has been unable to access for a number of years.

Mr Sithole’s story echoes the stories of thousands of other honest South Africans who have become a victim of the rise of lawlessness in South Africa where authorities have allowed criminals to take over properties without facing any consequences.

This is why the ActionSA City of Ekurhuleni Caucus successfully passed a Motion in August last year asking the city to address the rise in hijacked buildings in the city, but unfortunately it appears that little progress has since been made since.

The ActionSA City of Ekurhuleni Caucus will therefore continue to place pressure on the city to ensure that the matter is prioritised, to restore rule of law and attract investment back to the city.

Reclaiming hijacked buildings was a cornerstone of my term as Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, and it is unfortunate that due to political interference the project was brought to standstill.

Reclaiming hijacked and abandoned buildings remains a priority for ActionSA, and that is why we will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that in the cities it is in council, city administrations prioritise reclaiming these buildings.

Rule of law – a key value for ActionSA – remains essential to restore safe communities in South Africa, to attract investment, and to create jobs.

Issued by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, 8 February 2023