67 undocumented immigrants were arrested yesterday after the City conducted a crime prevention operation in three hijacked and bad properties in Hillbrow.
The operation was led by the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services Department in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Home Affairs, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Emergency Management Services (EMS) and the City’s Environmental Health, Citizen Relationship and Urban Management and Social Development departments.
The arrested people will be detained at the Hillbrow Police Station. Immigration officers from Home Affairs is expected to process them to ascertain relevant information.
Criminals must know that they might run but there is no place for them to hide in Johannesburg.
The City has conducted an audit of some 500 bad buildings, about 134 of which are confirmed as hijacked. 24 of the 500 bad buildings belong to the City.
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 under deplorable conditions.
We are committed to ensuring that we stop the rot in our inner city and make it a prosperous and inclusive place for our people to live work and play.
I would like to thank all the role players involved in yesterday’s successful operation, especially the SAPS and Home Affairs for their continued support.