The City of Johannesburg’s Metro Police Department has issued urgent communication to the Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Elias Mawela in respect of the situation in Lenasia and surrounding areas.
The communication urges the SAPS Provincial Commissioner to establish a Task Team to investigate those behind these land occupations taking place in the area. With investigations being the constitutionally determined preserve of the SAPS, the City is reliant upon the SAPS to investigate.
Yesterday, I met with a group of residents from Lenasia who have demonstrated to me how these land occupations are politically orchestrated by a local councillor and the South African National Civics Organisation. What is taking place is, effectively, organised crime and must be dealt with decisively.
These residents are in possession of evidence which demonstrates how money is exchanging hands, and already made-up shacks are being issued to those willing to pay for a piece of land where the occupations are taking place.
Those behind these occupations are being witnessed driving around the area in high-end luxury vehicles, as a testament to the lucrative nature of their criminal activity.
I have supported these residents to take their evidence to the SAPS and the South African Human Rights Commission, so that investigations are conducted as a matter of urgency. It is a disgrace that there are criminal elements that are willing to manipulate those who have suffered from government’s failure to address the housing and land ownership legacy in our City.
They are willing to put these vulnerable people at risk with the police services in our Country, while they remain safe at a distance counting their money. This kind of criminal activity requires the SAPS to investigate the so-called masterminds behind these operations and bring them to book. They must be held accountable for the manner in which they flagrantly break our laws to profit from the desperate people in our City.
The political agenda of those involved must be exposed for what it is, an effort to undermine this multi-party government through anarchy and lawlessness.
We will not rest until those involved face the fullest might of the law.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
For media enquiries:
Luyanda Mfeka
Director: Mayoral Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za
