Hijacked buildings in Johannesburg should be reclaimed: Malema
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says hijacked buildings in Johannesburg should be reclaimed by the city and converted into affordable housing and student accommodation.
He was addressing the party’s final rally at Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto. Malema says the buildings are being taken over by criminal syndicates that exploit vulnerable residents by charging them rent.
He says the proposed conversions would allow workers to live closer to their workplaces and students to stay near their campuses.
“Criminal syndicates take over buildings in Hillbrow, in Berea, in Jubet Park and Marshalltown and collect rent from desperate people who have no way to live, who have not forgotten the people who died in the Marshalltown fire in August 2023 in a building owned by the city of Johannesburg itself. They must know we don’t care whether you are South African or you are a Nigerian when you take a building in Johannesburg from the 5th of November, you are a criminal and we’re going to deal with you decisively.”
X | @SABCNews | LGE 2026 | EFF leader Julius Malema says people in some communities are living in inhumane conditions. He is addressing the party’s final rally at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto. https://t.co/hhfL3zmB3o
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 31, 2026
Malema has also assured voters that the party respects coalitions it enters into with other political parties.
“The EFF has been the most stable coalition partner in South African local government. We respect coalitions. We respect agreements. We respect all those people that voted for all the parties in those coaltiions but respecting coalitions does not mean protecting wrongdoing, we hold each other accountable even at the risk of losing our positions. When the people of Bronkorstspruit were given unsafe water by the City of Tshwane the EFF did not keep quiet because we were part of the coalition. We opened the criminal case against the mayor of Tshwane, we opened a criminal case against the City Manager for putting our lives in danger.”
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Malema also accused municipal officials and councilors of using corruption and tender manipulation to undermine service delivery. Malema alleged that jobs are often allocated through political connections and that some councilors demand sexual favours in exchange for employment opportunities.
He says some public officials delay or cancel projects to protect corrupt interests and secure kickbacks.
“People said jobs are given according to surnames and political affiliations. Counsellors seek sexual favours in exchange for jobs, and if young females refuse, they are denied job opportunities. The collapse of our municipalities is not an accident. It is a business model. In many municipalities, they are officials who work hand in hand with corrupt politicians. Together they decide who gets the tenders before the tenders are even advertised.”
