The South African Government plans to evict illegal occupants from more than 40 state-owned properties in the North West as part of a nationwide campaign to reclaim hijacked buildings.
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala announced Operation Bring Back in Potchefstroom, saying the operation will follow legal procedures and involve multiple stakeholders.
Operation Bring Back targets properties that became vulnerable to illegal occupation after being vacated by government departments.
The campaign seeks to restore lawful use of public assets and address illegal occupation across South Africa.
It was launched in September 2025 when Zikalala issued eviction notices to over 100 illegal occupants who had hijacked state properties in Cape Town.
Two properties in Goodwood and Khayelitsha, intended for use by the South African Police Service, were allegedly being used as drug dens after being illegally occupied.
Zikalala said the North West evictions will follow strict legal protocols. “We’re working on a process of evicting people who are in those properties. We’re following the eviction regulations, working with municipalities to ensure that those who stay there are properly checked.
“If they are undocumented foreigners, they get repatriated to their respective countries. If criminal activities are happening, criminal cases and charges are laid, and those involved are prosecuted,” he concluded.
