Johannesburg City Centre Faces Significant Urban Decay Amid G20 Summit Preparations

Johannesburg City Centre Faces Urban Decay Ahead of G20 Summit

Johannesburg, South Africa, is preparing to host the G20 summit, yet its city centre, located mere kilometres from the summit venue, presents significant urban challenges. Authorities are addressing issues in over 100 derelict buildings, many of which exhibit unmanaged refuse, open sewage, and reported occupation by criminal groups.

Residents describe challenging living conditions. Nelson Khetani, a resident of the MBV1 building in Joubert Park, reported the presence of illegal activities. He stated that rooms in MBV1 have been "hijacked," a practice where criminal elements seize control of residential units to collect rent or establish bases for illicit operations. Observational reports indicate vandalized communal kitchens and areas covered by human waste.

The BBC identified 102 derelict or abandoned buildings within the 18 sq km inner city. Some of these are confirmed to be hijacked and are considered unsuitable for human habitation. Rubbish and human waste accumulation are frequently observed in stairwells of these structures.

President Cyril Ramaphosa commented on the city's state in March, describing it as "filthy" and noting the presence of abandoned and hijacked buildings not contributing to rates and taxes. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero stated the city was "ready to host the G20" at that time.

Last month, the city council initiated a "clean-up" campaign targeting the inner city for the removal of lawlessness, illegal activities, hijacked properties, and by-law infringements. However, previous incidents, such as a fire in a derelict building two years prior that resulted in 76 fatalities, had not led to substantial changes in the reported conditions.

At Vannin Court, another inner-city building, observations revealed rooms covered in dirt and litter, and a strong odour of human faeces. Resident Sinethemba Maqoma reported that this council-owned building had been hijacked. Another resident, Sinqhiwe Goodman Sithole, stated that the city council had disconnected the water supply, reportedly due to criminal activities associated with the building. The city council did not provide comment on Vannin Court's water supply.

Residents rely on portable gas stoves for cooking due to the absence of mains gas or electricity. Cars in the building's basement were observed partially submerged in overflowing human waste, which had also entered an adjacent alleyway. A resident described flushing toilets by pouring buckets of water, with waste draining into the basement.

The city's housing issues predate the current situation. Following the end of apartheid in 1994, an influx of residents from townships into the city centre increased pressure on housing supply. This, combined with under-investment and the departure of property owners, contributed to the deterioration of many buildings, some of which became sites for illegal activities like hijacking.

A former hijacker, identified as Joseph, stated that he was contracted by criminals to prepare buildings for illegal rental and drug production. He described the primary business in these hijacked buildings as the manufacturing of "nyaope," a highly addictive street drug in South Africa. Joseph claimed that preventing evictions involved financial arrangements with city council and police officials. Nthatisi Modingoane, Deputy Director of Communications for the City of Johannesburg, stated the council had no "physical" or "credible reports" of such wrongdoing but affirmed intensification of operations against criminal activity in hijacked buildings. Johannesburg police did not respond to requests for comment regarding bribery allegations.

Evicting residents from these buildings is complex due to legal and financial constraints. South Africa's constitution protects the right to housing, requiring the state to provide alternative accommodation if a person settled in a building can demonstrate no other housing options. This imposes costs on local authorities, with evictions themselves being expensive.

Marks Mangaba, Johannesburg Central's sheriff, stated that large-scale evictions are financially prohibitive, potentially costing "millions of rands." Even if the city could afford mass evictions, it would necessitate providing alternative accommodation to prevent a homelessness crisis. Furthermore, South Africa's Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act requires a court order for every eviction, which can prolong the legal process.

President Ramaphosa expressed a vision in March for hijacked buildings to be converted into "living accommodations where our people can live lives of dignity." However, residents like Mr. Khetani, who has resided in MBV1 since 2008 in what was intended as temporary accommodation, report that the city council has not provided permanent alternatives, citing lack of funds.