The City of Johannesburg has revealed its intention to demolish an old building near the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, which has been turned into an informal settlement. The building has repeatedly been flagged, not only for illegal occupancy, but for other issues, including massive illegal connections, improper waste disposal, and running water spilling onto tar roads.

MMC for Development Planning Eunice Mgcina confirmed that the building was an old council property belonging to the city, which has since been encroached upon by residents who built informal structures inside.

Read more: MMC and JRA celebrate completion of major projects in region E

She explained that, while the city intends to demolish the building, it must first ensure that alternative shelter is provided for affected residents. She pointed to the Frankenwald development as a potential relocation site. “Such people will be relocated to those areas, but only people who are legally in the country, those with proper documentation or South African citizens. They will be the ones who benefit.”

Mgcina added that during the relocation process, the immigration unit will assist the city in dealing with individuals who are in the country illegally.

She indicated that multiple departments, including Development Planning, Human Settlements, the immigration unit, along with other entities, such Johannesburg Property Company and Johannesburg Water, among others, will be involved in dealing with the relocation matter. “[Mayor Dada Morero] will be calling a multi-disciplinary meeting of departments to plan how to implement the programme of relocating residents and demolishing the building.”

Also read: MMC urges officials to sustain service delivery efforts in Wynberg

The city’s relocation plans have faced repeated criticism, particularly as temporary relocation units (TRUs) remain unoccupied, while residents in informal settlements and hostels, such as Madala, continue to live in uninhabitable conditions.

Mgcina admitted that the issue of TRUs, especially those near Madala Hostel, remains a pressing challenge. “It took the city some time to reach a point where people could be relocated to those TRUs, but we all know there were issues of budgets, they were incomplete, and those challenges remain even now.”

She assured residents that it is in the city’s interest to ensure they are relocated to TRU structures. “We just appeal and request that the community bear with us.

The MMC for Human Settlement is handling the matter and will soon announce the plan going forward to our residents.”

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!