Is Johannesburg ready to host the G20 summit? | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Building Hijacking
• G20 Summit
• Squalid Residential Buildings
• Criminal Gangs
• Bribery and Corruption
• Eviction Processes
• Presidential Directives

Johannesburg's Struggle to Reclaim Buildings Ahead of G20 Summit

Johannesburg is facing significant challenges in preparing to host the first G20 summit on the African continent, primarily due to the widespread issue of hijacked residential buildings. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for decisive action to address the proliferation of these squalid buildings, many of which are controlled by criminal gangs.

The Reality of Hijacked Buildings: Van Court Case Study

The transcript highlights the dire conditions within hijacked buildings, using Van Court in central Johannesburg as a specific example.

• Ownership vs. Control: While Van Court is officially owned by the council, illegal networks of "hijackers" collect rent from its approximately 300 residents.
• Squalid Living Conditions: Residents endure deplorable living conditions. The basement, formerly a car park, is filled with human waste, with old cars partially submerged in feces, contributing to a strong, unpleasant odor.
• Rent Collection: A former hijacker interviewed for the report explained that rent collection is managed by a hierarchy of individuals within the gang, with different people responsible for collecting payments.

Presidential Directive and Scale of the Problem

President Ramaphosa has explicitly urged the city to reclaim abandoned buildings and repurpose them for housing.

• Presidential Mandate: "Those buildings should be taken, turned into living accommodation."
• Scope of Abandonment: The inner city alone has over 100 derelict or abandoned buildings.
• Vulnerable Population: These buildings collectively house an estimated 10,000 families, who are susceptible to exploitation by hijackers.

How Gangs Maintain Control: Bribery and Intimidation

A former building hijacker, speaking anonymously, revealed the methods employed by gangs to maintain their grip on these properties.

• Corruption as a Necessity: The former hijacker stated, "Having a good relationship with the city council and police is a matter of cash. If you don't take the cash, the police, the counselor or whatever, he must die."
• Extreme Intimidation Tactics: The report details severe threats, including:
  • Kidnapping children from school and returning them home.
  • Threatening parents in front of their children, stating, "buddy don't think this is the end. This is the start."
• Personal Remorse: The former hijacker expressed deep regret for his past actions, stating, "It's a pain to me because some of the time I'm sleeping, I can see people. I see people. People died in these buildings. People went missing. I'm sorry for the wrong path in my life."

Official Response and Challenges

The response from Johannesburg authorities and police has been met with skepticism.

• Lack of Official Comment: Johannesburg police did not respond to BBC requests for comment regarding allegations of bribery, intimidation, and murder.
• Investigation Findings: A city spokesperson stated that they are aware of criminal activity and will intensify operations. However, an investigation found no "physical reports or credible reports that seems to suggest that uh there might be any wrongdoing in some of the buildings."
• Acknowledged Severity: The spokesperson did acknowledge that "Some of the things that we see there are scary to say the least."
• Budgetary Constraints: Authorities cited limited budgets for evictions as a significant hurdle.
• Perceived Ineffectiveness: The president's call to clean up the city for the G20 summit is perceived by many as a "hollow appeal" given the financial limitations and the gangs' resistance.

Conclusion

Johannesburg faces a deeply entrenched problem of building hijacking, fueled by corruption and intimidation. Despite presidential directives and stated intentions to clean up the city for the G20 summit, significant obstacles, including limited budgets and alleged complicity of officials, hinder effective action. The situation in buildings like Van Court, with its squalid conditions and resident exploitation, exemplifies the urgent need for comprehensive solutions beyond superficial crackdowns.

Full Investigation Available: The BBC's full investigation, "A City Held Hostage, Johannesburg," can be viewed on BBC iPlayer and the BBC News Africa YouTube channel.