Property Hijacker Kingpin remains behind bars
Today, I was joined by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Vasco da Gama, the new Chief of Police for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Mr David Tembe, and officials from the Group Forensics Investigative Unit, to oppose the bail application of Johnathan Constable, a property hijacker kingpin in the City, and his two co-accused, Bongani Khathide and Kingsley Eze.
It is alleged that Mr Constable approached unsuspecting tenants residing in properties around the city and introduced himself as an investigator. He would then state that the true owners of the properties were hijackers and that the tenants should not cooperate with them. Further, he would instruct the tenants not to pay any rent to the owners but to him instead.
Mr Constable has been convicted of fraud before and was also found guilty of impersonating a police officer; he has a 157 page criminal profile. It is alleged that he has been operating throughout the country and has criminal cases in Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and in the Western Cape.
Today, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), applied for a postponement in the bail proceedings so as to finalise its case for opposing this bail application. The bail hearing has been postponed for Wednesday, 10 January 2018, in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court.
As a City, we are committed to providing quality low cost affordable housing to our residents. Building hijackers rob our residents of this quality housing and condemn many to living under inhumane conditions. We cannot allow this to continue any further.
That is why we will continue to be vigorous in assisting our law enforcement authorities to not only capture these criminals but to also ensure that they are subjected to the full might of the law.
Hijacked properties are a major challenge faced with by the City. However, working together with law enforcement authorities such as the South African Police Services and the NPA, we are making strides towards making the City a safe and inclusive space for all our residents to live, work and play.
Media enquiries:
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
For further information, please contact
Luyanda Mfeka
Director of Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za
