Government to evict people from 166 occupied properties
Department of Public Works wants to “turn the tide” on unlawful occupations
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) intends to remove individuals unlawfully residing in 166 state properties nationwide, according to a parliamentary public works portfolio committee on Wednesday. This initiative is part of the DPWI's Operation Bring Back. The majority of these illegal occupations are concentrated in Gauteng (32), Eastern Cape (31), North West (24), and the Western Cape (19).
Molatelo Mohwasa, the acting deputy director-general for real estate management services, revealed that the department is "faced with a significant number of properties unlawfully occupied." Occupations include people living in deteriorated buildings, unauthorized land grab, emerging informal settlements, and unauthorized construction on DPWI land.
The DPWI aims to "turn the tide" on these occupations and reclaim hijacked buildings to avoid tragedies like the Marshalltown fire. In 2025, the department contracted four service providers at an expense of R237-million to investigate the unlawfully occupied, dilapidated properties, identify occupants, and initiate the eviction process.
Eviction notices have been issued to the 166 identified properties, with all cases prepared for court, though legal papers have not yet been filed. DA MP Bonginkosi Madikizela expressed concerns about the cost of potential litigation, to which Mohwasa responded, "We have a responsibility to recover and take [state properties] back."
He added that recovered land could generate revenue and dilapidated properties could be repurposed for socio-economic objectives.
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