Joburg fire | Urgent need to restore dilapidated buildings

JOHANNESBURG - Dilapidated buildings in Johannesburg need to be condemned and rebuilt.

This is the proposal of the city's chair of Environmental Infrastructure, Imraan Moosa following a fire that engulfed a hijacked building, claiming the lives of 76 people.

READ: Joburg fire | Officials lament failure to tackle hijacked buildings

He says restoring the spaces will also help resolve the city's revenue problems.

"We need fast and effective action soon, hopefully we can solve some of these problems here with the bylaws.

"We need JMPD, we need the police as well to ensure that some of these areas are also condemned and we restore Johannesburg to what it should look like," he said.

READ: Joburg fire | Survivors hoping to salvage what’s left

The building was owned by the municipality and listed as a heritage site.

City authorities said it was last used as a shelter for abused women but was "invaded and hijacked" towards the end of the past decade.

- Additional reporting AFP