Once a municipal property, the old council building on 2nd Avenue in Wynberg has now been unlawfully seized and turned into an informal settlement.

Roughly 600 people are living on the property, with informal structures stacked on top of crumbling walls. City officials, including regional director Thaba Makgafela, have repeatedly warned that the settlement is not safe to be occupied. On one side of the property, wooden poles, often used to build shacks, are used to support the brick structures on top. Yet even after multiples of inspections and promises, the city is yet to announce how, or when, it will reclaim the building.

Read more: Roads in the Setswetla informal settlement lie in ruins, while services are in crisis

Officials also flagged the settlement as one of the biggest contributors to 2nd Avenue’s deterioration, mainly because some residents in the settlement pour wastewater directly on the tar road, and without storm water drains nearby, the water constantly erodes the tar.

Makgafela said the city has, in the past, taken some steps, disconnecting water supply and removing illegal electricity connections, but the settlement itself has been left untouched, at least to date.

MMC for Development Planning Eunice Mgcina previously revealed that demolishing the building is the ultimate plan, but the city must first secure alternative shelter for residents.

Also read: City reveals intention to demolish building housing informal settlement in Alexandra

While officials confirmed that about 600 people have occupied the building, the number of foreign nationals in the area has not been confirmed. Makgafela confirmed that the building has been occupied mainly by foreign nationals. “What we need is home affairs to help us do an immigration act implementation.”

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