Capital City Plagued by Hijacked Buildings and Soaring Crime
The City of Tshwane is facing a growing crisis as hijacked buildings spread across commercial and residential areas, leading to decaying structures, rising crime, and a serious threat to public safety and economic growth.
Mayor Nasiphi Moya told Newszroom Afrika that the central business district (CBD) is being “hijacked from all sides,” with some buildings transformed into drug dens, others abandoned by private owners, and even city-owned properties left to crumble.
In response, the city has launched the Reclaim the City initiative, aimed at enforcing bylaws, relocating informal traders, addressing illegal immigration, and cracking down on drugs and unregulated scrapyards. Yet, officials still don’t know the full extent of the problem—an alarming sign of just how deep this issue runs.
Findings from an ongoing investigation will shape discussions at an investment summit in March, where city leaders hope to attract business interest in student housing, low-cost housing, and commercial developments.
Recent law enforcement operations have exposed the grim reality within these neglected buildings. At Drakensberg Flats on Nana Sita Street, residents endure appalling conditions, surviving without water or electricity and resorting to fire hydrants for their daily needs—a risky and unsanitary solution that highlights their desperation.
On Sisulu Street, authorities uncovered an abandoned car dealership still selling vehicles, including an ambulance from the Eastern Cape, with no one to account for its ownership. In the same area, a building that failed to meet safety standards was operating as both a makeshift church and an unregistered daycare center. Another illegal daycare was found in a different hijacked building—both now set for closure due to safety concerns.
With so many unknowns and dangerous living conditions, Tshwane’s battle to reclaim its hijacked buildings is just beginning.
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