Johannesburg’s Central Business District (CBD) has become a haunting landscape of dilapidated buildings on the verge of collapse. Graffiti-covered walls and boarded-up windows dominate the scenery, while the streets are littered with debris and emanate a putrid stench of rotting food and urine.
Overcrowded, dangerous, and lacking basic amenities, the CBD has now witnessed one of South Africa’s most devastating building disasters. On Thursday, a fire engulfed 80 Albert Street, claiming the lives of 76 people and leaving dozens injured.
The rundown complex was one of many buildings that have been “hijacked” by criminals and property gangs who illegally rent out spaces to those unable to afford proper housing. These hijacked buildings often lack reliable amenities and sanitation.
Molly, a 21-year-old resident of a nearby hijacked building, describes her living conditions as akin to being in a prison. “We go without water for extended periods, and we live in darkness, with many of us crammed into a single room,” she shared with the BBC, requesting anonymity due to her illegal status.
Molly’s building is just one of 57 hijacked structures in the inner city, accommodating up to 2,000 people in a single complex. In the aftermath of the tragic fire, questions arise as to how such hazardous conditions are allowed to persist.
South Africa’s Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act (PIE Act) serves as a legal barrier to clearing hijacked buildings. The act stipulates that individuals cannot be evicted from their homes without a court order. Once settled in a building and able to prove they have nowhere else to go, eviction becomes nearly impossible.
Angela Rivers, the general manager at Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association, believes the anti-eviction law lies at the heart of the problem. She explains, “You cannot evict anybody unless they have alternative accommodation, which needs to be provided by the prosecution. And that is where the mess comes in because the prosecution is incapable of providing any accommodation since their own accommodation has been hijacked.”
The 80 Albert Street complex was owned by the City of Johannesburg, making the city responsible for finding alternative shelter for the evicted residents. Originally serving as the Central Pass Office during apartheid, the building later became the Usindiso Women’s Shelter before falling into disrepair and being taken over by criminal gangs.
Johannesburg has faced a growing housing shortage since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. Many residents from townships outside the city moved to the center for better job opportunities, exacerbating the housing crisis. Authorities claim they lack the funds to address the need for affordable housing, and eviction laws tie their hands.
Critics, including Angela Rivers, argue that the city has simply refused to tackle the problem head-on. She suggests conducting inspections of public buildings and utilizing existing powers and bylaws to improve the lives of those residing in these hazardous structures.
Kenny Kunene, a member of the opposition Patriotic Alliance, believes the anti-eviction law protects criminals. He advocates for mass deportation of immigrants living in hijacked buildings, viewing both the hijackers and their tenants as part of the same problem.
Human rights groups argue that Kunene’s views reflect a rising tide of xenophobia in a country with an estimated 2.9 million migrants. South Africa’s status as the most industrialized economy in the region attracts individuals seeking better work opportunities from countries like Nigeria and Somalia.
While acknowledging the issue of illegal immigrants, Angela Rivers emphasizes that they are not the ones neglecting these buildings. She asserts that many tenants are desperate individuals willing to pay for shelter and are victims themselves, just like the property owners who have lost their buildings.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the charred remains of 80 Albert Street, calling for a thorough investigation to prevent future tragedies. However, specific steps the government will take to address the housing crisis in the inner city remain undisclosed.
As the investigation into the fire continues, the blame game surrounding Johannesburg’s deplorable living conditions persists, leaving the city’s residents trapped in unimaginable circumstances.