On 08 January 2017, the Group Forensic Investigation Department achieved another successful breakthrough in the City’s attempts to restore hijacked buildings to right owners and protect the rule of law in Johannesburg.
This comes after the City’s Group Forensic Investigation and the South African Police Service (SAPS) pressed charges against Jonathan Constable, a hijacking kingpin, and his cronies, who all appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates court last week.
Yesterday, a Turffontein property was returned to its owner who had been deprived of the use and enjoyment of his property by individuals who hijacked his property since May 2017. The illegal occupiers were Mr. Constable’s alleged clients.
A SAPS detective belonging to the Property Hijackings Task Team engaged the complainant who reported the hijacking of his property following an awareness session conducted by the Group Forensic Investigation Department at a community meeting held in December 2017 in ward 61.
An enquiry into the matter was opened with the assistance of the SAPS. However, upon learning of Constable’s arrest, the occupiers decided to cooperate with the property owner and to vacate the property of their own accord. The owner is now in total control of his property as of yesterday evening.
This brings the total number of properties returned their owners to 10 since May 2017.
Last week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), applied for a postponement in the bail proceedings relating to Jonathan Constable and his co-accused, so as to finalise its case for opposing their application.
On 10 January 2018, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Herman Mashaba, joined by officials of the City’s Group Forensic Investigation Department, will attend proceedings for this bail hearing. As a City, we are committed to providing quality low cost affordable housing to our residents. Building hijackers rob our residents of this quality housing and condemn many to living under inhumane conditions. We cannot allow this to continue any further.
That is why we will continue to be vigorous in assisting our law enforcement authorities to not only capture these criminals but to also ensure that they are subjected to the full might of the law.