The Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), SAPS and City of Joburg Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) arrested 10 people for malicious damage to property, trespassing and contempt of court in Belgravia on April 13.
Johannesburg executive mayor Clr Herman Mashaba said he was informed that the property’s rightful owner bought the space in 2009 and had been renting it out to the tenants who subsequently hijacked the building.
“In 2016 the tenants began refusing to pay their monthly rentals. In March, the owner obtained an eviction order and the tenants were evicted. However, they forcefully moved back onto the property the same day,” he said.
The 10 were detained at Jeppe SAPS and are expected to appear in court.
“I am pleased that we were able to assist another property owner whose property was in the hands of hijackers. Hijacked properties are one of the challenges that we are faced with in Johannesburg but we are pleased with the strides we are making in addressing the challenge,” said Mashaba.
He encouraged people to report any fraud and corruption activities through the 24-hour tip-off hotline on 0800 002 587.
