Johannesburg authorities have uncovered significant overcrowding and lease violations during a social housing inspection campaign in Hillbrow aimed at strengthening governance and improving revenue collection.
Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso, accompanied by officials from the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) and law enforcement agencies, visited several social housing properties in the inner city on Wednesday.
The inspections form part of the City of Johannesburg’s broader strategy to ensure municipal-owned properties are managed in line with lease agreements while tackling revenue losses linked to illegal activities within housing developments.
Hillbrow Building Found Housing Double Its Intended Capacity
The operation began at a building on Claim Street in Hillbrow, where officials discovered approximately 80 people living in a property designed to accommodate only 40 residents.
City officials said overcrowding remains a major concern, particularly in social housing facilities where occupancy levels directly affect safety, maintenance and the overall management of buildings.
Authorities noted that violations identified during inspections often include unauthorised occupants and subletting arrangements that breach lease conditions.
Illegal Occupation Of Commercial Spaces Costing City Millions
According to the City of Johannesburg, the unlawful occupation of commercial spaces within JOSHCO-owned properties is resulting in millions of rands in lost revenue.
Officials said that once tenants begin subletting units, rent collection becomes increasingly difficult, while buildings become more susceptible to hijacking and other forms of unlawful occupation.
The city believes tighter enforcement and improved oversight are necessary to safeguard municipal assets and maintain the sustainability of social housing projects.
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Despite identifying multiple cases of non-compliance, city officials acknowledged that their authority to act remains restricted by legal requirements.
Officials explained that any eviction process must first receive authorisation from a court before action can be taken against occupants who violate lease agreements.
Until such orders are granted, the City is unable to remove non-compliant occupants, even when breaches have been confirmed during inspections.
