05 arrested after City’s raid on Hijacked Properties
Five people were arrested yesterday afternoon after the City conducted a crime prevention operation in two hijacked and bad properties in Jeppestown, Troyeville and Doornfontein.
The operation was led by the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services Unit 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 that were targeted during the operation include Lions Leather Work, Rosano Moses, corner Marshall Street and John Page Street and 25 Norsa Street.
A total of three suspects who are wanted for various crimes were arrested after they were identified through the morpho-touch fingerprint device. Two suspects were arrested for illegal position of drugs. Four citation fines were also issued by the JMPD.
The arrested suspects will be detained at the Hillbrow Police Station. They are expected to appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court today.
Hijacked properties is one of the challenges we are faced with in the City but we are pleased with the strides we are making in addressing the challenge.
On Monday night we handed back 03 properties which were hijacked to the rightful owners. These properties were hijacked last year and the rightful owners were denied access to their property.
In the past three weeks we arrested 3 property hijackers. A husband and his wife who were arrested early this month for hijacking one of the properties in Kenilworth were denied bail.
I am pleased to announce that a property hijacking kingpin and his co-accused will be sentenced tomorrow at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
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 Joburg
For further information, please contact:
Lucky Sindane
Director: Strategic Stakeholder Management
Group Forensic and Investigation Services
Cell: 065 865 0696
Email: LuckySi@joburg.org.za
Or
Luyanda Mfeka
Acting Director of Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za
