WATCH: Roughly 100 families live inside this dilapidated Johannesburg building

A crumbling building in Johannesburg’s CBD requires urgent attention to address the safety of the occupants.  

An inspection of the building was led by MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku on Monday, with a multi-department response needed to address the magnitude of the task.

Located on Marshall Street, the building was previously damaged by fire and is littered with illegal connections and other hazards.

Severe overcrowding

Families are crammed into the seven-story structure via rudimentary subdivided sections.

The MMC noted how roughly 100 families live in the building, many are foreign nationals.

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Stagnant, dirty water overflowing from illegal connections, live electricity cables snaking across walls, and ceilings still charred from the fire are visible throughout.

WATCH: Conditions inside the building

“These are terrible living conditions that require immediate intervention. The building fails to meet local by-laws on basic health, fire safety, and structural standards,” stated Tshwaku.

An “evacuation process with various partners” is to be rapidly initiated, confirmed the MMC’s office.

Alleged criminality

Residents who occupied the building told the MMC that drug dealers and other criminals frequented the property.

This was later corroborated as Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department units found stolen electrical cables on the property.

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Additionally, the Department of Social Development was called to assist four unattended children.

The team of inspectors was told that the building was informally managed by a group taking advantage of their desperation.

“City’s investigative unit will thoroughly investigate the illegal activities, including tenant exploitation through exorbitant rent and the facilitation of criminal networks,” stated the MMC.

Inner-city compliance

The inspection formed part of a drive to identify non-compliant buildings in the CBD that pose a danger to residents.

The MMC followed up the Marshall Street visit with a walkabout of the CBD on Tuesday morning with Mayor Dada Morero.   

Tshwaku claimed a zero-tolerance policy would be taken to restore the dignity of CBD residents.

“We are not only reclaiming these areas but also giving hope to communities who have been neglected and criminalised,” said Tshwaku.

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