Plans underway to redevelop long-neglected Melgisedek site
After decades of neglect, the Melgisedek buildings in Pretoria’s CBD are now at the centre of renewed safety concerns, with the metro warning of a looming disaster and eyeing private developers for a solution.
Unofficial figures allege that the Melgisedek buildings, close to Steve Biko Academic Hospital, comprise 60% foreign nationals and that it is a disaster waiting to happen.
MMC for Corporate and Shared Services Kholofelo Morodi said this during a recent Bad Buildings Committee operation in the CBD.
The Melgisedek buildings have become synonymous with locals for being in a constant state of decay and ruin, whilst being a haven for vagrancy, crime, and illegal trading.
This is despite a decade-long wait for redevelopment since the buildings were condemned as unfit for humans.
“This place is another Usindiso waiting to happen. This is a crisis; we can’t fold our arms and be held hostage when more than 300 people’s lives are at risk. This is a disaster waiting to happen,” Morodi said.
The Usindiso building was a hijacked property in Johannesburg that burned down two years ago, killing 76 people.
Morodi said the metro is preparing select properties for development and plans to clear Melgisedek once suitable alternative housing is identified for its occupants.
This follows engagements with the University of Pretoria over the possibility of converting the building into student accommodation.
Morodi also said the metro would not fund the buildings’ refurbishment, but bidding to private sector developers will take place to see who would lease and redevelop the property under a long-term agreement.
“A squatter camp right in the middle of the CBD? Melgisedek has been standing in this state for the past 21 years. All previous administrations faced hurdles from human rights lawyers opposing the city’s actions, to the tenants being hostile towards any relocation efforts.
“However, we can’t negotiate when we see an imminent disaster about to happen,” Morodi added.
The Melgisedek Buildings are in a state of urban decay, with several vagrants in the background.
During a site visit in September, Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, stated that the issues of the former government building are well known and form part of the committee’s list of items that will need to be addressed.
The many homeless people who reside there, needing to be relocated, have been thorns in the side of both the current and previous administrations’ plans to refurbish the building.
During the operation, officials also visited a spares shop in Pretoria West, which reportedly owes the city more than R1.2-million. The store was shut down, and its electricity was disconnected.
Watch here: https://x.com/i/status/1995797085107458270.
A squatter camp right in the middle of the CBD?
Melgisedek has been standing in this state for the past 21 years. All previous administration faced hurdles from Human Rights lawyers opposing City’s actions to the tenants being hostile towards any relocation efforts.
However we… https://t.co/S6ubEfXytr pic.twitter.com/JKddUPE7tR
— Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) December 2, 2025
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