South Africa’s capital is riddled with hijacked buildings and rising crime

 ·4 Feb 2025

The City of Tshwane is grappling with the proliferation of hijacked buildings, which has led to crumbling buildings and rampant crime.

This issue, which has seeped into both commercial and residential areas, represents not just a structural blight but a significant threat to public safety and economic stability.

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya told Newszroom Afrika that the central business district (CBD) is being “hijacked from all sides”.

Some buildings have become drug dens, others are neglected private properties, and some are city-owned buildings left to fall apart.

To fix this, the city has started a program called “Reclaim the City.” The plan includes enforcing bylaws, relocating informal traders to designated spaces, addressing illegal immigration, and tackling the scourge of drugs and unregulated scrapyards.

However, despite these efforts, the city remains unaware of the exact number of hijacked buildings. This uncertainty underscores the severity and complexity of the problem.

The committee’s findings will inform strategies to be discussed at an investment summit planned for March, where the city hopes to attract interest in business settlements, student accommodation, and low-cost housing projects.

Law enforcement operations have unveiled the stark realities within these compromised spaces.

At Drakensberg Flats on Nana Sita Street, people live in terrible conditions. Even though the building lacks water or electricity, residents survive by using water from fire hydrants.

This is dangerous and unhealthy but shows how desperate people are.

On Sisulu Street, they found an abandoned car dealership with cars for sale, including an ambulance from the Eastern Cape.

No one was there to explain who owned it. In the same area, a building that didn’t meet safety codes was used as a makeshift church and an unregistered daycare centre.

Another building was also being turned into a daycare without the proper permits. These buildings will be shut down because they’re unsafe.

Authorities raided an illegal chop shop in a hijacked building within Tshwane CBD.

The problem is not confined to commercial areas. According to Grandi Theunissen, Tshwane’s MMC for Community Safety, residential property hijackings are increasingly common.

Criminal syndicates exploit properties left vacant by absentee owners or tied up in deceased estates.

These groups often forge ownership documents, making it nearly impossible for legitimate owners to reclaim their properties.

Disturbingly, Theunissen revealed that some syndicates operate with the assistance of individuals within the deeds office, facilitating fraudulent property transfers.

One example that underscores the severity of crimes stemming from hijacked buildings occurred in a property on Lillian Ngoyi Street.

The building, initially an abandoned office block, was taken over by criminal syndicates and transformed into a hub for illicit activities.

In 2023, police uncovered a human trafficking operation within its walls, rescuing 15 young women who had been lured from rural areas with false promises of employment.

The victims were held captive, exploited, and subjected to unimaginable abuse.

This tragic discovery highlighted the criminal underbelly thriving in hijacked spaces and the profound human cost associated with the city’s urban decay.

Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson has acknowledged the national scope of the issue, with 272 hijacked buildings identified across the country.

His inspections of Public Works properties have revealed widespread neglect and exploitation.

Macpherson expressed deep concern for individuals living in these buildings, many of whom are victims of exploitation, subjected to crime, drugs, and even human trafficking.

However, he emphasised that the government cannot negotiate with the ringleaders who perpetuate these illegal occupations.

Rising crime

The rise in hijacked buildings has paralleled an increase in crime within Pretoria’s CBD. Since 2019, crime rates have surged by 30%, a trend linked to non-functional CCTV cameras.

MMC for Community Safety Hannes Coetzee pointed to a controversial 2014 CCTV tender under the ANC administration, which resulted in over 319 cameras being inoperative despite a R400 million investment.

This lack of surveillance has emboldened criminal activities, further complicating efforts to restore order.

Theunissen also pointed out that illegal land occupation, cable theft, extortion, and the sale of counterfeit goods are significant issues.

Foreign nationals often illegally occupy abandoned buildings in the city centre, renting out rooms to other undocumented people.

This creates serious health, fire, and safety risks. Criminal groups are suspected of working with city officials, law firms, and even the deeds office to transfer property ownership illegally.

In Pretoria West, large quantities of counterfeit goods are sold, while drug trafficking is a big problem in Sunnyside.

Areas like Centurion and Pretoria East face problems with cable theft and infrastructure damage.

Hijacked buildings have become breeding grounds for illegal activities, from drug trafficking to human exploitation. They undermine property values, deter investment, and strain municipal resources.

Yet, amidst this bleak landscape, there are signs of resistance and hope.

The “Reclaim the City” program, bolstered by coordinated law enforcement efforts and public sector reforms, represents a concerted attempt to reclaim urban spaces from criminal elements.

The upcoming investment summit will be a critical juncture, showcasing not just the city’s challenges but also its potential for renewal and growth.

Addressing the hijacking crisis in Tshwane requires more than just policy interventions; it demands a holistic approach that integrates law enforcement, community engagement, and sustainable urban planning.

Only through such comprehensive efforts can South Africa’s capital city hope to reclaim its streets, restore public confidence, and pave the way for a safer, more prosperous future.

Hijacked buildings in the Tshwane CBD

Abandoned Schubart Park Complex handover to Tsoseletso Consortium, Tshwane.

Hijacked Tshwane municipality property in Sunnyside

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