City of Joburg EMS
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will lead “a massive crack down” and “government-wide” investigation into hijacked buildings across the country in the wake of the deadly Johannesburg building fire.
At least 77 people died when a fire engulfed the five-story Usindiso building in Marshalltown on Thursday. Another 50 people were reportedly injured.
The Ministry of Public Works & Infrastructure said on Sunday that it has been tasked with undertaking the investigation into hijacked buildings in the country’s Metros.
The probe will be led by the Minister, Sihle Zikalala.
“As a department responsible for state property management, the Department of Public Works was already in the process of identifying misappropriated state properties within its own asset register,” the Ministry statement said.
“Out of 29 000 buildings in the Department’s Asset Register throughout the country the Department has embarked on a process to recover some 1260 properties that have been flagged as being illegally occupied under the Operation Bring Back Program.
“The Department said it would intensify this operation in all Metros and municipalities in the country.”
It also called on “individuals and institutions to avail themselves for amnesty, and to regularise their occupation of properties in line with applicable laws of the country.”
