Following recent raids and turf wars in hijacked buildings, the African National Congress in Johannesburg has hit back at ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba's claims that the city is 'negotiating with criminals.' The ANC accuses him of misleading the public and ignoring his failed record as mayor, advocating a housing-focused approach beyond enforcement.
The saga of hijacked buildings in Johannesburg's inner city continues to fuel political tensions. Just a week after intensified multi-agency raids amid syndicate turf wars—sparked by the fatal shooting of activist DJ Warras—the city's Public Safety MMC Mgcini Tshwaku announced plans to negotiate with tenants on rent affordability rather than immediate evictions. This drew fire from former mayor and ActionSA President Herman Mashaba, who labeled it as negotiating with criminals.
On December 27, 2025, the ANC's Greater Johannesburg branch responded forcefully via spokesperson Mantombi Nkosi, calling Mashaba's remarks 'misleading' and 'intellectually dishonest.' She highlighted his administration's role in the inner city's decay: “This claim ignores his own record during his tenure as Executive Mayor. Mashaba did not reclaim the inner city. The urban decay that Johannesburg continues to reverse is, in significant measure, a direct result of his administration’s recklessness and mismanagement.”
The ANC frames hijacked buildings as a broader housing and development challenge, not just a law enforcement issue, amid efforts to revitalize the CBD including areas like Marshalltown.