Cape Town – The Department of Public Works has identified more than 1 200 properties in its asset register as illegally occupied as part of its “Operation Bring Back” programme.
This initiative aims to recover stolen or illegally transferred properties, regulate occupancy in state-owned properties, and investigate and identify more illegally occupied properties.
The move follows a recent incident in which 77 people died in a burning, hijacked state building in Marshalltown.
According to Times Live, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, will lead the effort to identify all hijacked buildings and determine their future use.
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“The department will intensify this operation in all metros and municipalities in the country. Each metro or municipality will have to indicate how many properties it has on its asset register, the state of those assets, what they are used for and its current status. Depending on the status of those properties, the ministry will recommend what should be done,” the report quoted departmental spokesperson Lennox Mabaso as saying.
The department will also call for amnesty to regularise property occupation and may consider selling, leasing, or using these properties for rentals.
Criminal prosecutions and expropriation may be pursued for unclaimed properties.
Additionally, a multidisciplinary team will assess the integrity of identified buildings and provide recommendations for revitalizing city centers across South Africa.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
