After three days of evidence in the bail application, alleged property hijacker, Jonathan Constable and his two co-accused were denied bail in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 12 January.
Executive Mayor for the City of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba said that denial of bail will ensure ‘victory for the prospects of creating low-cost affordable accommodation for the residents of Joburg’.
Constable and his co-accused, Bongani Khathide and Kingsley Eze, have been charged with theft and fraud.
Constable, who claims to work for a union called National Immigrants Council of South Africa (NICSA), allegedly approached tenants of properties as an investigator. He would then claim that the owners of the properties were hijackers and convinced the tenants to not pay rent to the owners. He is accused of using this method at two properties in Rosettenville.
The court case will continue on 24 January, when Mayor Herman Mashaba will be present in court alongside councillor Vasco da Gama, the speaker of council.
Mashaba said, “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 in deplorable conditions.
“As the City, we are committed to providing quality low cost, affordable housing to our residents. We cannot allow property hijackers to continue robbing our residents of opportunities to create quality housing. We cannot allow property hijackers to condemn our residents to living in undignified conditions.
“Working together with law enforcement authorities such as the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority, will make the city a safe and inclusive space for all our residents to live, work and play.”
Details: joburg.org.za
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