Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero recently led an operation to demolish illegal structures on Small Street in the city centre. The City stated that the action aims to strengthen by-law enforcement, eliminate illegal trading, improve revenue collection, and enhance environmental health compliance.
MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services Sithembiso Zungu said the demolition forms part of the City’s continued “Reclaim the City” initiative, which began in August before the G20 summit. He noted that the programme was driven by longstanding challenges in the Johannesburg CBD, particularly around safety and accessibility for residents.
“We’ve been on the ground,” Zungu said. “Residents are crying about the safety and accessibility of the city, and we as government have to act.”
He explained that parts of Small Street had been effectively hijacked by store owners who constructed structures without approved plans from the City. Officials had visited the area in December, spoken to store owners, and raised concerns about the state of the area and resident complaints, but conditions did not improve.
Zungu emphasised that by-law enforcement does not require prior notice. “If you break any laws we must enforce. You don’t need any notice to enforce bylaws,” he stated.
During the operation, authorities demolished 23 stores. Zungu highlighted that all were owned by foreign nationals and that these operators primarily employed undocumented foreign nationals. He described broader lawlessness in the area as a key concern that prompted the City to restore order.
The MMC rejected suggestions that the operation was linked to upcoming elections, describing it instead as a street-by-street approach to service delivery and law enforcement. He pointed to Dilla’s Street (also referred to as Dillia’s or Devilas), where similar interventions last year had reportedly reduced congestion and crime. “Dilla’s looks far better than it used to be,” Zungu said. “The street is clean and accessible. People are walking freely.”
Looking ahead, the City plans further operations. On Tuesday, the mayor indicated that Maple Towers would be next. The site has a history of violence, including an attack on JMPD and City officials by store owners in 2024. Zungu said the operation there would be large-scale, requiring support from the army, immigration authorities, and other agencies to address structures encroaching on pavements.
Further actions are planned for Bree Street and other areas such as Randburg, which has reportedly turned into another problem area. Zungu stressed the importance of sustained monitoring, noting that JMPD teams would remain in cleared areas like Small Street to prevent illegal structures from reappearing.
The City intends to maintain this momentum to re-establish law and order across the Johannesburg CBD.