JOHANNESBURG - The failure to address the hijacked buildings crisis in Johannesburg has resulted in a loss of 74 lives so far. Officials are blaming the failure on a wide range of challenges.
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Johannesburg Council Speaker Colleen Makhubele said, "Look this thing is a two-edged sword, it's not an indictment only on government, I think we have to understand it in the context of what it is, number one, this hijacked buildings, we've known them, we've been dealing with it but the justice system fails us when it comes to identifying these hijackers themselves and then prosecuting etc."
"Somehow they are let off the hook along the justice system. Number two, it has to do with lawlessness, also on the part of citizens."
"We have embarked on civic education, to really teach the citizens, understand that things like this, they result in tragedy, lawlessness, they don't want to abide by the bylaws of the city, you ask them to move, they refuse."