05 arrested after City’s raid on Hijacked Properties
Today, five (5) people were arrested in the early hours of this morning after the City conducted a crime prevention operation in two hijacked and bad properties in Hillbrow and Berea.
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), the City’s Environmental Health and Social Development departments.
The properties that were targeted during the operation include Arms Court in Berea, Vannin Court and Number 77 Wolmarans Street in Hillbrow.
A total of 05 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of drugs. They are expected to appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court today. 20 cases of alcohol were also confiscated during the operation.
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.
Last month we arrested 03 property hijackers and handed back the properties to the rightful owners.
Leading to the festive season, we are going to intensify these raids working the various stakeholders. This is a period where property hijackers take advantage of the fact that people go away on holiday and hijack their properties.
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.
We are committed to ensuring that we stop the rot in our inner city and make it a prosperous and inclusive place for our people to live work and play.
I would like to thank all the role players involved in this morning’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
Siyanda Makhubo
Media Specialist:
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 081 548 9078
Email: SiyandaMa@joburg.org.za
