37 Abandoned Factories in Johannesburg To Be Turned into 3,000 Low Cost Homes

The city of Johannesburg has identified 37 abandoned factories across the city, which it intends to hand over to the private sector to build low-cost housing.

According to Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, the factories are located in areas with a desperate housing shortage.

“The abandoned factories that have been identified are located in areas such as Kew, Devland, Rabie Ridge, Doornfontein, Booysens and Nancefield,” said Mashaba.

“Of particular interest are 16 factories identified in close proximity to Alexandra, offering the much-needed opportunity to reduce the density of settlement in this under-developed township.”

It has been estimated that the factories occupy enough space for at at least 3,000 houses.

The city will immediately begin preparing a proposal to the council, which will allow the commencement of legal proceedings.

“These factories will be expropriated within the existing legal framework of the Constitution. For this we will utilise the fact that they are abandoned, owners are untraceable and monies owing on these properties exceed their value,” he said.

“Once this has been granted, the City will be able to put these properties out to the private sector and award them on the criteria that achieves the largest number of residential units, the lowest rentals, the highest job creation and investment.”