By: Natasha Archary

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng says the City of Joburg (COJ) has failed to clamp down on illegally occupied buildings, which pose a threat.
This after a fire gutted one of the “hijacked buildings” in Marshalltown, JHB CBD, on Thursday, 31 August, claiming the lives of 74 people, this includes 12 children.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota is calling for a forensic audit to be conducted, saying it’s clear the COJ failed to put measures in place that would have prevented a disaster such as this.
“The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and municipalities are failing in their mandate when it comes to keeping track of abandoned and hijacked buildings.
This was once again highlighted when a fire broke out at an alleged hijacked building in Albert Street, Marshalltown.
It is believed this building was hijacked and that a number of people were living in this building illegally.”
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota
Cirota says not only was the building unsafe, but believes the building, like many within the CBD is controlled by gangs who rent out the space, despite there being no running water, electricity or toilets.
The DA is demanding that the MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, along with his counterpart, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mzi Khumalo and National Government to urgently conduct an audit on all abandoned buildings in the province.
Also read: Families can identify victims of CBD fire on Friday, 01 September



