Melgisedek demolition begins as occupants served eviction notices
Demolition of the fire-damaged Melgisedek building is underway after the metro issued eviction notices, citing serious health and safety risks. While relocation processes continue through the courts, officials say the condemned structure – described as unsafe and unfit for occupation – must be cleared to prevent further danger and restore order in the inner city.
Following the Melgisedek building fire earlier this month and after several site visits to the property, the Bad Buildings Mayoral Sub-Committee recently issued eviction notices to the occupants and commenced demolishing the building on February 19.
The metro confirmed that it is still in the ongoing legal processes of finalising relocation, and details will be provided in due course.
In the meantime, it maintains that the area is a health and safety hazard and not fit for human occupation.
“The city will be working over the next few weeks to demolish and clear the area. Safety is our top priority, and this demolition is the first step toward ensuring a safer environment for everyone,” said Bad Buildings Committee Chairperson and the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi.
Accompanied by the TMPD, SAPS, and supporting stakeholders, the metro commenced removing illegally erected structures from the property on February 19 to pave the way to demolishing the property, a move Morodi said is being taken to save lives.
“We have to always make sure we protect our residents, and doing that involves us demolishing and also approaching the courts to get the occupants evicted to another place of safety, so that we can protect lives.
“What we want to do as a municipality is to encourage residents not to occupy illegally hijacked buildings. We are working toward low-cost housing so that our communities can live closer to work,” Morodi said.
The MMC stated during the return visit to Melgisedek that, while they recognised the housing crisis, unlawful occupation cannot be tolerated.
Action is being taken in line with the law, and relocation will be carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation, and order must be restored.
“Demolition continues at Melgisedek. We’re moving steadily through the site and ensuring safety is maintained throughout the process,” Morodi posted to her social media in an update.
Community Safety MMC Alderman Hannes Coetzee inspected the ongoing demolition at the condemned building.
Coetzee said that the dilapidated building had become a drug den over the years, and insisted that the city must be cleansed of drugs and dilapidated buildings.
“It has actually become a drug den, and then this building and a couple of others behind me caught fire a few weeks ago. The Fire Department has said that this building is condemned, and people cannot stay in it,” he said.
Coetzee said it wasn’t just a case of moving people.
“We also need to make sure that these people who are on drugs receive the assistance they need, so that we can maybe put them in a place where they can get help,” he said.
“This building has to be demolished; people cannot stay in it because it’s going to collapse. This is what we do with the inner-city rejuvenation: we don’t just break down, we have to rejuvenate this area completely so we can build a city of excellence,” Coetzee said.
On February 2 at about 07:30, the city’s Emergency Services Department responded to a fire at the site.
After the call reached the emergency call centre, firefighters from Innesdale, Hatfield, and Central Fire Stations were dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze.
Firefighters found the third floor of one of the buildings engulfed in flames.
The roof later collapsed, and preliminary assessments indicate that about 20 rooms were affected by the fire.
Fortunately, no casualties were recorded as the occupants of the building managed to evacuate safely before the fire spread.
Four patients were, however, treated for smoke inhalation and transported to a nearby medical facility. The cause of the fire remains undetermined following an investigation.
Since the fire, the Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, and the Bad Buildings Committee have visited the site several times to assess the damage.
They said that relocating the illegal occupants remains a priority, as they will not wait for the loss of life to take action.
When asked about the current state of the legal proceedings and evictions, the Bad Buildings Committee informed Rekord that the matter is before the courts, and they cannot comment on active legal proceedings, but that safety remains their priority following the fire.
Watch here: https://x.com/i/status/2026319867410792769
Demolition continues at Melgisedek. We’re moving steadily through the site and ensuring safety is maintained throughout the process. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/g6ovUhkMPW
— Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) February 24, 2026
https://x.com/i/status/2024399807507222806
Residents, we heard you loud and clear. We are in Melgisedek, where we will be demolishing one of the buildings that caught fire earlier this month.
Teams are on site removing illegally constructed structures. We cannot allow the situation to continue any further.
Let us save… pic.twitter.com/HfOx1Xfacy
— Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) February 19, 2026
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