DPWI steps up campaign to reclaim hijacked state properties

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) says it is making progress in reclaiming hijacked and neglected state-owned buildings as it intensifies its Operation Bring Back (OBB) campaign to recover properties that have been unlawfully occupied or transferred.

Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala addressed residents in Mogale City, Gauteng, on Thursday as part of the nationwide initiative to identify and recover state properties that were illegally occupied or transferred after 1994.

“Many of these properties became vacant following the post-1994 restructuring of government departments and were subsequently occupied,” Zikalala said.

He said government intends to reclaim and repurpose the properties for community facilities, development centres, shelters for victims of gender-based violence and femicide, social or commercial housing, and government offices to reduce the state’s rental costs.

The campaign has already been rolled out in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and North West before reaching Mogale