Johannesburg’s battle against hijacked buildings has run into a hard reality: the city says it does not have enough land or money to move residents out of unsafe properties.
The municipality says it has reclaimed 59 hijacked buildings since 2016. But hundreds more buildings remain either hijacked, derelict or illegally occupied across the inner city.
City spokesperson Virgil James said the city has secured just over 10 eviction orders. However, officials cannot carry out those evictions without providing temporary emergency accommodation for affected residents.
James said this has become a major stumbling block because the city currently lacks both the budget and space to relocate people.
The result is a difficult stand-off. The city wants to act against unsafe buildings and criminal syndicates, but it must also avoid leaving residents homeless.
Hundreds of buildings still affected
James said about 200 hijacked buildings have been officially identified in the Johannesburg CBD.
Wider audits suggest the number of derelict or partly hijacked properties could be between 300 and 500.
At least 188 audited hijacked buildings remain unlawfully occupied.
Another 119 properties have already been handed to external attorneys for legal action.
The city has linked hijacked buildings to illegal utility connections, crime and dangerous living conditions.
James also warned that reclaiming buildings is not enough on its own. He said criminal networks behind the takeovers must be dismantled, or restored properties could be hijacked again.
City flags internal corruption
Johannesburg has also raised concerns about alleged corruption inside the municipality.
James said some city employees are suspected of warning illegal building operators before planned police raids.
This makes enforcement harder and gives building hijackers time to prepare or avoid action.
Between 2016 and 2019, the city reclaimed 44 buildings under former mayor Herman Mashaba’s administration.
Another 15 buildings were restored between 2025 and 2026.
Among the buildings already evacuated and secured are the MOTH Building and the Delvers Building.
Residents divided over clean-up
Residents have shared mixed views about the city’s approach.
One resident said people removed from a building were later placed in shacks in Denver and had not received proper homes.
Another resident said the area around one redeveloped building had become safer because criminals could no longer use it as a hideout.
The crisis has placed Johannesburg’s inner city back under pressure as officials try to balance public safety, housing rights and the fight against organised building hijacking.