Joburg still a battleground for hijackers, crime syndicates: Mashaba

Former City of Johannesburg mayor and ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba, says the city remains a battleground for hijackers and criminal syndicates.

He warns that these syndicates, often linked to politically connected individuals, continue to exploit properties and threaten the safety of residents.

The City of Johannesburg is currently facing significant challenges with hijacked buildings, particularly in the inner-city areas.

Mashaba calls for accountability. “Unfortunately, this whole syndicate of hijacked buildings involved the people who are politically connected, some of them directly involved in politics. Our law enforcement agencies, as exposed by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkwanazi, have, I’m sure, now South Africans can now see for themselves.”

Corruption

Specialist Security and Private Investigator, Mike Bolhuis says corruption and bribery has exacerbated the hijacking of buildings in the Johannesburg CBD.

Bolhuis says it’s difficult to remove people who occupy properties illegally, as police are often threatened by the kingpins of hijacked buildings. He says that hijackers exploit the slow pace of the justice system.

Bolhuis says it will take time for law enforcement to overcome the challenges of hijacked buildings.

“You know there’s many reasons why this has been grinded to such a huge issue. One, is a lack of authority in getting involved in assisting the community or owners. The court systems do make a difference trying to interdict. But it is difficult to enforce. These groups are so clever and they can bribe the authorities and also going to an extend of killing somebody.”

Hijacked Buildings | Syndicates are smart and have ways of dealing with police: Mike Bolhuis

Inspections and raids

Johannesburg authorities say they will intensify their efforts in tackling the ongoing problem. The Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, says the turf war over hijacked building rentals, in the inner city, is escalating again, and this puts many lives at risks.

In a bid to tackle the crisis and stop the bloodshed, the City has now intensified inspections and raids in the various hijacked buildings.

The latest inspection was carried out this Saturday by a multi-agency team at one of the most dangerous and notoriously hijacked building in Marshalltown, in the Johannesburg CBD.