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2010-09-16: Joburg Inner City task team embarks on major building inspection in the Hillbrow and Berea areas    
 
THE Johannesburg Inner City is a major economic generator in South Africa with over one million people living, working and playing in the inner city.

The City of Joburg has pursued a strong focused regeneration initiative over the past couple of years which has resulted in a steady come back of business and investment into the inner city.

However, one of the stumbling blocks to redevelopment is building hijacking and slum lording.  These buildings are very often ‘bad buildings' in that they are overcrowded, have problems with waste, are fire and safety hazards and some are havens for criminals.

In order to provide alternative accommodation for people who live under these circumstances and in an effort to transform city living into community living for residents of the inner city, Region F is compiling a database of available accommodation throughout the city that will assist in providing options for better and legal accommodation.

The City has identified the need to conduct a census that will provide an overview of the housing and social needs within these identified areas.  It is envisaged that the City will acknowledge the accommodation needs of those persons who are currently living in inhumane conditions. 

The survey, called operation Ziveze (show yourself), will focus on gathering information from residents of Hillbrow and Berea. A team of 60 community workers will be visiting residents and seeking their assistance in compiling information about their living conditions and personal circumstances.

"The aim of these operations and inspections is to ensure that building owners and landlords comply with the City's by-laws and provide accommodation which ensures that communities live in a safe and clean environment which does not endanger their lives," said Shaun O'Shea, Stakeholder Management Manager.

The City has discovered that in many instances, residents of slum buildings or bad buildings are already paying rent to slumlords or buildings hijackers. In other cases, many people are residing in such buildings are normally ‘illegal immigrants' or people waiting for finalization of their residential status.

Speaking at a meeting about migration and xenophiobia hosted by the City of Joburg in Braamfontein on Tuesday, September 14, Mayor Amos Masondo said the lack of managed shelters had led to undesirable situations in the Inner City. The City aims to regulate the provision of decent accommodation for migrants in the City. By compiling a comprehensive database of migrants moving in and out of the City, Masondo assured residents this information would be key to enable the City to fine-tune its planning and delivery of services.

The continued revival of the Inner City is important and development of the City of Johannesburg and it will require commitment and support of all role players.  The City is appealing to all building owners, landlords, agents and security firms to allow access to officials into buildings. The City has already identified buildings were the project is going to take place, and the City's Stakeholder Management has already sent out notices to inform residents in those buildings.



Issued by:
City of Johannesburg 

For more information contact:
Shaun O'Shea
Manager: Stakeholder Management & Liaison
City of Johannesburg: Region F
Tel: 011 376 8530
Fax: 011 376 8588
Cell: 082 464 9520