Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba wants to expropriate 37 abandoned factories that have been identified by the city and turn them into low-cost affordable housing. Mashaba says that this follows a 2018 council resolution to convert 84 city-owned properties for the same purpose.
The City of Johannesburg has identified 37 abandoned factories which it plans to expropriate in order to create low-cost housing for residents.
Herman Mashaba revealed that a 2018 council resolved to convert 84 properties owned by the city in order to create affordable homes within the inner city: “Following on this success in the inner city, the multi-party government has now identified 37 abandoned factories across the city, specifically those located in areas in desperate need of housing opportunities.”
Mashabe commented that the large sizes of the properties would be able to offer almost 3 000 housing opportunities in multi-story buildings.
The abandoned factories identified were located in areas such as Kew, Devland, Rabie Ridge and Booysens. The mayors says that 16 of the buildings were near Alexandra, providing an opportunity to reduce the density of people in the township, reports TimesLIVE.
The municipality is preparing a proposal to be heard be council in August, seeking to allow the city to begin legal proceedings to expropriate the properties.
Mashaba is adamant that the buildings will be expropriated within the confines of the law, commenting that: “For this we will utilise the fact that they are abandoned, owners are untraceable and monies owing on these properties exceed their value.“
Source: Briefly.co.za
