A total of 272 undocumented immigrants were arrested in the early hours of this morning after the City conducted a crime prevention operation at a hijacked and bad property in 5 Davies Street, Doornfontein.
The operation was led by the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services Unit in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Home Affairs, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Emergency Management Services (EMS) and the City’s Environmental Health, Housing, Citizen Relationship and Urban Management and Social Development Departments.
The arrested undocumented foreign nationals will be detained at the Jeppestown Police Station. The City will also be engaging with the Department of Home Affairs on ensuring that those detained are properly processed. Those who qualify for asylum must be expeditiously issued with the relevant legal papers.
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.
24 hijacked properties have been handed back to their rightful owners. About 300 buildings are confirmed as hijacked in the City. The City has conducted an audit of some 500 bad buildings. 24 of the 500 bad buildings belong to the City. 15 property hijackers have been arrested.
Criminals must know that they might run but there is no place for them to hide in Johannesburg.
The City will not leave any stone unturned when dealing with criminal activities within its area of jurisdiction and we will continue to intensify the raids at these bad and hijacked properties with the assistance of SAPS and other law enforcement agencies.
I would like to thank the Saps Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Deliwe de Lange for her commitment in addressing the challenge we are faced with by establishing a dedicated team that will investigate property hijackings in conjunction with the City.
I would also like to thank all the role players involved in this morning’s successful operation.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
Media inquiries:
Lucky Sindane
Director: Strategic Stakeholder Management
Group Forensic and Investigation Services
Cell: 065 865 0696
Email: LuckySi@joburg.org.za
Or
Tanya Heydenrych
Media Specialist
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
081 4171 871
