Herman Mashaba, the former mayor of Johannesburg and leader of the opposition party ActionSA, has renewed his urgent call for reclaiming so-called “hijacked buildings” in the city’s inner core, warning that these illegally occupied structures continue to fuel crime, fires, structural dangers, and inhumane living conditions.
“Hijacked buildings pose a serious and immediate threat to our communities,” Mashaba said in recent statements. “They expose our people to fires, structural collapse, crime, and inhumane living conditions. This is why reclaiming these buildings is essential to restoring safety and dignity in our cities.”
Mashaba’s comments come amid heightened tensions following the December 2025 murder of popular media personality DJ Warras, allegedly linked to turf wars over control of a hijacked property in the central business district. The killing has spotlighted the violent criminal syndicates that often extort rent from vulnerable occupants in these derelict buildings.
During his tenure as mayor from 2016 to 2019, Mashaba says his administration identified over 600 hijacked or abandoned properties and launched an Inner City Rejuvenation Plan. The initiative, approved by the city council, led to the reclamation of more than 150 buildings, which were handed over to private developers for redevelopment into affordable housing and commercial spaces, creating thousands of jobs.
“We had a proven blueprint,” Mashaba told CNN in a 2023 interview following a deadly fire in one such building that claimed over 70 lives. He accused national government officials of blocking progress and alleged some political connections enable the syndicates, which generate billions in untaxed illegal rents annually.
Mashaba has sharply criticised the current city’s approach under Public Safety MMC Mgcini Tshwaku, who has proposed engaging with tenants to assess who can pay formal rent rather than immediate mass evictions, citing severe housing shortages. Mashaba dismissed this as “negotiating with criminals” and “political theater,” arguing it risks legitimising syndicates involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and counterfeit goods distribution.
As Johannesburg grapples with urban decay, migration pressures, and a housing backlog exceeding 500,000 units, Mashaba vows ActionSA will intensify efforts to reclaim properties, partner with the private sector, and enforce law and order decisively.
Experts say sustainable solutions require addressing root causes like poverty and post-apartheid spatial planning, but Mashaba insists firm action is long overdue to prevent more tragedies and revive the city’s heart.