11 arrested after City’s raid on Hijacked Properties
11 people were arrested yesterday afternoon after the City conducted a crime prevention operation in two hijacked and bad buildings in Hillbrow and Berea.
The operation was led by the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services Department in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Emergency Management Services (EMS) and the City’s Environmental Health, Citizen Relationship and Urban Management and Social Development departments.
The properties which were targeted during the operation include Vannin Court in Hillbrow and Killibility Court in Berea.
A total of 5 undocumented immigrants were arrested during the operation and detained at the Hillbrow Police Station. Immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs will now process those who were arrested to ascertain relevant information.
In addition, 6 suspects, wanted for various crimes, were also arrested during the operation. 20 cases of alcohol were also confiscated. Compliance notices were issued by EMS.
Hijacked buildings are one of the major challenges we face in the City, however, I am pleased with the strides we are making to address this challenge. In the past three weeks we arrested 3 property hijackers. I am pleased that a husband and his wife who were arrested early this month for hijacking a property in Kenilworth are still in custody. The couple appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday and were denied bail.
Criminals must know that they might run but there is no place for them to hide in Johannesburg.
The City has conducted an audit of some 500 bad buildings, about 134 of which are confirmed as hijacked. 24 of the 500 bad buildings belong to the City. It is essential that we bring back the rule of law in our City and take it back from the criminal elements such as landlords who take advantage of desperate people and house them under deplorable conditions.
I would like to thank all the role players involved in yesterday’s successful operation, especially the SAPS for their continued support.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Media enquiries:
Luyanda Mfeka
Acting Director of Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za
Or
Lucky Sindane
Director: Strategic Stakeholder Management
Group Forensic and Investigation Services
Cell: 065 865 0696
Email: LuckySi@joburg.org.za
