Evacuated Alexandra residents urged to refrain from occupying government-owned container flats

JOHANNESBURG – The City of Joburg has urged Alexandra residents to refrain from occupying government-owned container flats in the community as they are still under construction.

The vacant apartments were built in 2020 to accommodate people living in high-density communities in response to Covid-19 regulations.

However, the flats were never officially allocated, resulting in hundreds of families occupying them illegally earlier this year.

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

Just outside the Alexandra Container Apartments, evicted residents have built makeshift homes using cardboard, plastic and mattresses.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said they feel neglected by the City of Joburg as they have been left to live on the streets.

“We’re not saying we want anything fancy, we just want to have a house. Even if it’s just huts,” the resident said.

Joburg Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso said the container flats are not yet ready for occupancy.

“If you immediately push people to illegally occupy structures that are not complete, you are putting their lives at risk,” Mabaso said.

Homeless residents protested on Friday demanding decent housing.