Johannesburg mayor announces closure of unsafe Metro Centre in Braamfontein

By Johnathan Paoli

Joburg mayor Dada Morero has announced the closure of the Metro Centre in Braamfontein because it was inhabitable, unsafe and in violation of the city’s regulations.

The Metro Centre, Johannesburg’s central administrative hub, has been declared unsafe and uninhabitable due to severe infrastructure issues resulting from years of neglect and unresolved structural and compliance concerns flagged in various reports.

“The Metro Centre, located in Braamfontein, has become inhabitable and violates multiple regulations and acts. Therefore, swift action was necessary to prevent exposing CoJ employees and the public to further danger,” Morero told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the refurbishment of the Metro Centre was projected to cost an estimated R3.2 billion.

“We think it will come at about the cost of about R3.2 billion or less but that’s the projected cost of rebuilding of the metro centre.”

According to recent media reports, the decision to vacate the Metro Centre follows a proposed refurbishment plan under a private-public partnership (PPP) led by Bayete Capital.

Valued between R900 million and R2 billion, the PPP was pushed through despite council opposition.

Critics contend that the refurbishment was both unnecessary and exorbitant for a City in financial crisis.

In September 2024, Morero faced public embarrassment when the electricity and water at his private office in Braamfontein, rented from politically-connected businessman and property mogul Lonwabo Sambudla’s Bayete Capital, were shut off due to overdue utility bills.

The incident exposed serious flaws in the City’s property management and sparked concerns about financial priorities in a city facing a R4 billion monthly deficit.

Morero said the building, which was over 50 years old, accommodated around 3,000 employees and offered essential public services daily.

However, its aging electrical, plumbing and ventilation systems have rendered it non-compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other