MMC for Corporate and Shared Services Kholofelo Morodi inspect bad building in the City of Tshwane photo by Dimakatso Modipa
Cllr Kholofelo Morodi
MMC for Corporate and Shared Services
The City of Tshwane’s Bad Buildings Committee has successfully driven the
development of the Problem Building and Property Management By-Law, which has
been officially passed today, 28 August 2025, by the City’s Council.
This marks a decisive step in the City’s efforts to combat urban decay.
City of Tshwane, like many metros across the country, continues to face the growing challenge of hijacked and dilapidated buildings, abandoned properties, illegal land use, unsafe structures, illegal service connections, and unpaid property bills.
These problem buildings not only degrade the urban environment but also pose serious risks to residents and municipal infrastructure.
The Bad Buildings Sub-Mayoral Committee has led a coordinated response to these
challenges, working closely with various departments and enforcement agencies
under the Integrated By-law Enforcement Committee (IBEC).
The by-law provides the legal backbone to hold property owners accountable for derelict and unlawfully occupied buildings, while empowering the City to secure, repair, or demolish dangerous structures at the owners’ expense.
It also authorises urgent interventions
such as evacuations, evictions, demolitions, and even expropriations of properties that threaten public health and safety.
Chairperson of the Bad Buildings Committee and MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Cllr Kholofelo Morodi said, “This by-law is a turning point in our fight against problem buildings. For too long, residents have suffered under the burden of unsafe, abandoned, and hijacked properties.
We are restoring order, safety, and dignity to communities, while holding negligent property owners accountable.”
Now that it has been passed by Council, the by-law will go through a structured public participation process, giving residents, businesses, and property stakeholders the opportunity to make
their voices heard.
This by-law directly supports the City’s
strategic priorities of building a business-friendly city that promotes economic growth and jobs, creating a caring city that protects the vulnerable and restores dignity, and delivering a
professional, accountable, and transparent public service.
The City will announce details of the public participation process in due course.