Hundreds of migrants nabbed during hijacked property raid in Joburg

More than 200 undocumented migrants were nabbed in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, in the early hours of this morning.

The police, the City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services Unit, the department of home affairs, the Johannesburg metro police, the City’s Environmental Health unit, as well as the departments of housing, citizen relationship and urban management, and social development, raided a property on 5 Davies Street in Braamfontein, during an operation.

A tallied 272 undocumented migrants arrested have been detained at Jeppestown Police Station awaiting further processing by the department of home affairs.

City spokesperson Lucky Sindane said those who were arrested but qualified for asylum would be issued with legal papers.

He said the City had a challenge with hijacked properties, but it was pleased with the strides they were making in addressing this challenge.

About 24 hijacked properties have to date been handed back to their rightful owners, leaving 300 buildings in the city still in the clutches of property hijackers.

The City pledges to intensify raids targeting hijacked buildings around Johannesburg.