WATCH: Joburg’s Keserne building successfully demolished

It took only four seconds and 783 non-electronic detonators to implode the Kaserne building in Johannesburg on May 15.

The Kaserne building was confiscated by the court after it caught fire due to an unauthorized electrical connection, which resulted in the tragic loss of nine lives.

According to the City of Johannesburg Housing MMC, Mlungisi Mabaso, the building was demolished to develop 1500 homes for residents of Johannesburg.

“We are currently in the planning stages of this development. We cannot exactly say when construction will start because development planning has its own set of procedures. This will be the first mixed-use development that we will build in the city,” said Mabaso.

The area where the Kaserne building used to be will make room for a public-private partnership that can help speed up the provision of houses.

During the construction of the new dwelling units, residents of the adjoining informal community will be prioritised.

Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse, believes the implosion of the Kaserne building represents a significant step forward in overcoming the city’s housing shortage.

“There is a huge housing crisis in the city of Johannesburg whereby the housing allocation list is at 480 000 because of lack of resources to provide those houses,” said Phalatse.

The site will be transformed into an area with basic amenities, such as a health facility and early childhood development centre.

It further means that the new construction will appeal to a variety of socio-economic groups to meet the city’s various housing demands.

Mabaso said in the meantime they are going to electrify the informal community next to the Kaserne building to prevent fires like the one that destroyed the building in April 2020.

This will not only result in a new housing development but, will create thousands of job opportunities for the people of Johannesburg.