In an effort to save an estimated two million records left rotting in the basement of Joburg's Metro Centre, the Legal Resources Centre has launched a Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) application to clarify why the City of Johannesburg is not rectifying the problem.
The Legal Resources Centre (LRC), a public-interest law organisation acting on behalf of affected property owners and civic groups, has submitted a formal Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) application compelling the City of Johannesburg to release all engineering and safety reports behind the Metro Centre's closure.
Metro Centre abandoned, costing Joburg billions while officials lease private offices February 24, 2026 Shaatirah Baboo Hassim, an attorney at the LRC, confirmed the legal action that aims to force transparency over whether the closure of the landmark municipal precinct -- and the dumping of an estimated two million planning records in the basement -- is grounded in genuine technical findings or is serving as a cover for severe administrative failure.
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These physical files -- including irreplaceable, historic architectural designs and protected heritage drawings dating back over a century -- now lie abandoned, unmonitored and scattered across the dark, flooded subterranean levels of the condemned complex.
While these foundational records rot underground or fall prey to illicit syndicates raiding the basement, Joburg residents, architects and home buyers face daily financial ruin. Property transfers across the city remain deadlocked as conveyancers and commercial banks refuse to register mortgage...
