Displaced Alexandra residents urged to refrain from occupying government-owned housing containers

JOHANNESBURG – The City of Johannesburg has appealed to residents of Alexandra to refrain from occupying government-owned housing containers as construction work on them is still ongoing.

The empty flats were built in 2020 to provide accommodation for people living in densely populated communities in response to Covid-19 regulations.

However, these apartments were never officially allocated and, as a result, hundreds of families illegally occupied them earlier this year.

Recently, the City of Joburg evicted these families, leaving some of them homeless.

Just behind the shipping containers in Alexandra, evicted residents have built makeshift homes out of cardboard, plastic and mattresses.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said he felt neglected by the City of Joburg as he was left to fend for himself on the streets.

“We’re not saying we want something fancy, we just want a home. Even if it’s just a shack,” the resident said.

Joburg Human Housing MMC Mlungisi Mabaso said the container flats are not yet ready for occupation.

“If you immediately force people to illegally occupy unfinished buildings, you are putting their lives at risk,” Mabaso said.

Homeless residents protested on Friday, demanding decent housing conditions.