President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the use of the newly signed Expropriation Act to reclaim hijacked buildings in Johannesburg, even without compensation, in an effort to transform them into proper housing units.
Addressing the Johannesburg City Council on Friday, Ramaphosa emphasized the urgent need to tackle urban decay and lawlessness in the city. “The buildings should be taken and be turned into living accommodation,” he stated.
The Expropriation Act, which was signed into law in January after a five-year process of public consultation and parliamentary deliberation, allows the state to acquire property for public purposes or in the public interest, ensuring just and equitable compensation. However, Ramaphosa’s remarks suggest a tougher stance on illegally occupied buildings.
His comments come amid a broader government effort to address service delivery issues in Gauteng, particularly in Johannesburg, where city leaders have struggled to manage deteriorating infrastructure and safety concerns. The President expressed his disappointment with the state of the city, describing it as “filthy and torn.”
“To be direct and tell it how it is, I should say one or two G20 meetings that I attended here were not very pleasing. The environment that one observed was not a pleasing environment,” he said.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has requested additional reinforcements to help restore order and revitalize the city. In response, Ramaphosa assured that national government would intervene to address lawlessness and urban decline. Morero, in turn, committed to improving Johannesburg’s conditions, vowing to clean up the city and ensure residents live in a better environment.
The move has sparked debate, with some political parties supporting the Expropriation Act as a means of addressing past injustices, while others, including opposition groups, have raised concerns about property rights and economic stability.
As the government moves forward with its plans, the fate of Johannesburg’s hijacked buildings remains a key issue in the ongoing debate over land and housing policies in South Africa.