City of Joburg announced that council passed a resolution to expropriate 37 abandoned factories across the city of Johannesburg for low-cost housing.
These factories will be expropriated within the existing legal framework of the constitution.
“These buildings are abandoned, owners are untraceable and money owed to these properties exceeds their value.
“This move allows the City to put the properties out to tender, with the intention of allowing private developers to create as many housing units as possible for our residents closer to economic opportunities,” said executive mayor Clr Herman Mashaba.
The abandoned factories that have been identified are located in areas such as Kew, Devland, Rabie Ridge, Doornfontein, Booysens and Nancefield.
“Of particular interest were 16 factories identified in close proximity to Alexandra, offering the much-needed opportunity to reduce the density of settlement in this under-developed township.
“Arising from their large stand sizes, the yield of these properties will offer nearly 3 000 housing opportunities in multi-storey buildings. This is especially important given the desperate need for housing,” said Mashaba.
The City plans to roll out about 2 000 RDP houses, 4 000 serviced stands and 10 informal settlement upgrades in the 2019/20 financial year.
