An alleged property hijacker and an accomplice have been arrested and will appear in the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court on 14 May.
In a statement issued by the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, the hijacked property in Yeoville was successfully handed over to the owner following an investigation by the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service Department (GFIS) alongside the police.
Read: Law closing in on building hijackers
The accused allegedly stopped paying rent to the owner last year and subsequently sublet the unit while collecting rent without permission. The owner approached the court in December where an eviction order was granted. The accused were evicted at the beginning of May this year, however, they allegedly moved back onto the property.
Mashaba said, “The suspected property hijacker will be charged with contravening Section 3 (1) of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act, contempt of court and trespassing; while his co-accused, who is also a tenant at the property, will be charged with contempt of court and trespassing.
Read: PICS: Joburg Central police search for hijacking suspects
“The City will not leave any stone unturned when dealing with criminal activities within its area of jurisdiction and we will continue to intensify the raids at these bad and hijacked properties with the assistance of police and other law enforcement agencies.”
This is a developing story and updates will follow.
Details: www.joburg.org.za
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