Dozens of buildings in Johannesburg, South Africa, have been taken over by crime syndicates, turning them into havens for drugs and criminal activity. This issue came to the forefront after a deadly fire broke out in a downtown block, killing over 70 people.
Sihle Dube, a resident of downtown Johannesburg, had been living in a tiny room in a rundown building that was hijacked by criminals. On the night of the fire, Dube woke up to a loud bang and discovered smoke billowing into his apartment. He tried to escape through a window but slipped and blacked out. Luckily, he was transported to a nearby hospital.
The fire exposed a problem that authorities have neglected for years – the abandonment of Johannesburg’s city centre. Criminal syndicates have taken over many abandoned buildings, charging fees for people to stay there. Angela Rivers, general manager at the Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association, revealed that there were 57 of these hijacked buildings in the central business district alone, most of which are owned by the city or provincial government.
These buildings have become hubs for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Residents often rely on illegal electricity connections, gas burners, and candles, leading to an increased risk of fires.
Although the cause of the recent deadly fire is still under investigation, the apartment block where it occurred was one such hijacked building. The city authorities had initially leased it to a charity offering shelter for women, but the charity ran out of funds, and the building became overrun with drug users and migrants seeking refuge.
The city of Johannesburg has yet to respond to the residents’ accounts, but Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink stated that there is a plan in place to regain control over these hijacked buildings. Details of the plan have not been released.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the fire a wake-up call and emphasized the need for cities and municipalities to take action in improving living conditions for residents. Decades of apartheid and a critical shortage of housing have exacerbated the issue, along with the influx of migrants seeking better lives.
Residents like Sihle Dube and his sister Ethel Jack are accustomed to living in overcrowded buildings controlled by rent-seeking syndicates. Seeking help is often avoided due to the fear of deportation or retaliation from landlords. The government has made some attempts to address the issue, but eviction without proper alternatives would only result in more homelessness.
The tragic fire in Johannesburg has exposed the dire living conditions faced by many of the city’s residents. It serves as a reminder that urgent action is needed to ensure the safety and well-being of those living in these hijacked buildings.