A major inter-departmental operation led by the MMC for Public Safety, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, raided a hijacked building on Troye Street in the city centre on Thursday, uncovering an illegal butchering operation and highlighting the complex challenges of inner-city housing decay.
The operation, which included members of the Red Ants Security Relocation and Eviction Services and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), targeted one of many buildings in the area under the control of unauthorized syndicates.
A reporter on the scene described conditions inside the building as dire, with makeshift sheds constructed indoors and evident sewage issues. During the inspection, authorities discovered an unauthorized abattoir where cow heads were being chopped and meat distributed, as well as an illicit chicken farm operating within the residential space.
“The meat that you’re eating in the CBD… it comes from here,” said Dr. Tshwaku, who was on-site. He noted the strong smell of ammonia and described the conditions as “quite very dangerous.” He stated that officials from Environmental Health were set to confiscate all materials, rather than issue fines.
Tenants Plead for Legitimacy and City Services
In a significant shift from typical enforcement raids, Dr. Tshwaku engaged directly with tenants, who expressed a desire to formalize their living situation. He relayed that long-term residents, some dating back to the 1990s, claimed they have repeatedly tried to pay rates to the City of Johannesburg but have been unable to do so because official accounts were not created for the building.
“They said… ‘we want to pay, we want to do, but the problem is you don’t create an account for us,’” Dr. Tshwaku stated. He said the tactic of this operation was to listen, rather than simply disrupt.
New Proposed Strategy: Renovation Over Eviction
Facing the immense challenge of providing alternative accommodation—a process he said could take “20 years or so”—the MMC proposed a new collaborative approach. He revealed that generous individuals and companies have offered to partially renovate the building to make it safe and habitable while tenants remain.
The plan would involve propping the structure for safety, then renovating room-by-room to restore electricity and water. Tenants have reportedly agreed to assist with cleaning and repairs. Dr. Tshwaku said his department would work to establish a legitimate payment system for municipal services and would return in the new year for further meetings.
He also referenced a past motion by the EFF caucus, suggesting that buildings where owners cannot be found should be expropriated without compensation and converted into low-cost housing by the city.
Violent Realities of Building Hijackings
Dr. Tshwaku underscored the violent, factionalized nature of building hijackings in the inner city, describing territories controlled by different syndicates. He cited a case where four generations of hijackers had “been eliminating each other,” with violence following individuals back to their hometowns.
Criticism of Home Affairs and Clean-Up Campaign
The MMC sharply criticized the national Department of Home Affairs, claiming it has “low morale” and is ineffective in addressing undocumented immigration, which compounds housing issues. “There is no home affairs in South Africa,” he said, questioning why the department was not being held accountable.
Concluding the operation, Dr. Tshwaku announced a new city clean-up campaign, “block by block,” starting in the area. He displayed brooms he said were purchased with officials’ salaries, stating that community volunteers would be trained in peacekeeping and by-law enforcement.
The raid on Troye Street signals a potential pivot in the city’s strategy, exploring partnerships and incremental upgrades as an alternative to the logistically fraught and socially disruptive process of mass evictions.