The City of Joburg’s executive mayor said a Malvern property was restored to its rightful owner after a man accused of property hijacking and his partners were denied bail.
Executive mayor, Clr Herman Mashaba, described the decision to deny bail as a battle won against property hijacking.
“The property on Fawcus Street was returned to its rightful owner, Nonhlanhla Mbatha, on January 14,” Mashaba said.
Mbatha approached the City of Joburg’s Group Forensic Investigation Service Department in October 2017 after being denied the use of her property post registration in September 2017.
“Access to the property was prohibited due to the accused colluding with the tenants of the previous owner of the property and encouraging them not to co-operate with Mbatha who was the new owner,” Mashaba said.
He said the man was arrested on December 29 and this was followed by occupiers of the property co-operating with the city and SAPS to facilitate the restoration of control of the property to Mbatha.“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,” said Mashaba.
“We cannot allow property hijackers to continue to rob our residents of opportunities to create this quality housing. We cannot allow property hijackers to condemn our residents to live in undignified conditions,” said Mashaba.
