Hijackers have a new target in South Africa – and it’s not your car BY Malcolm Libera

[Nat Quinn]

Hijackers have a new target in South Africa – and it’s not your car BY Malcolm Libera

Property hijacking has been on the rise over the past decade in South Africa, and these criminals are now targeting homes in residential neighbourhoods.

Reported cases show that the criminals are moving from industrial CBDs to residential areas, with alarming reports of a syndicate working with the help of individuals at the deeds office.

The problem of hijacked buildings and properties in South Africa is intensifying, now spreading from commercial districts into urban residential areas.

Traditionally, this issue was concentrated in city centres, where neglected or abandoned buildings were taken over by illegal occupants.

However, the phenomenon is increasingly affecting residential neighbourhoods, creating new challenges for homeowners and local authorities.

Residential property hijacking occurs when criminal syndicates or opportunistic groups illegally seize homes, often renting them out to unsuspecting tenants.

These operations are typically carried out by well-organised groups who forge ownership documents, making it difficult for legitimate property owners to reclaim their homes.

This is according to Grandi Theunissen, the Tshwane MMC for community safety, who told eNCA that this trend is partially rife in Gauteng.

Theunissen said that targeted homes include those where the owner is currently residing outside the province or country, leaving the property empty, while estates of deceased persons are also vulnerable.

Alarmingly, he added that a known syndicate operating in the Pretoria area is working with people in the deeds office.

“They quite literally and physically hijack the building and take ownership of the property through their contacts, and the legal owner has no foot to stand on,” said Theunissen.

“I am currently aware of a couple of cases where this has happened, and the hijackers have legal papers from the deeds office,” he added.

He also highlighted that the main motivation behind the hijackings is to rent them out, often to individuals who don’t have the required documentation to legally rent out property.

Theunissen highlighted that these types of hijackings are a major concern, and efforts, in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS), are currently underway to weed out corrupt officials within the government institutions working with these criminals.

“We have already identified potential suspects within the operation. I can’t elaborate further, but I’ve also had conversations with the Hawks, ” he said.

Theunissen said he is currently working on 12 cases of hijacked residential properties, and it’s likely only the tip of the iceberg.

He stressed that the SAPS is fully aware of these syndicates and is currently in the process of setting up a task team with municipal officers to tackle this concerning trend.

While this trend is relatively new for residential property owners, hijacked buildings and properties have become a severe and escalating problem for major cities like Johannesburg.

According to the City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS), hundreds of buildings have been illegally occupied, contributing to urban decay, increased crime, and a loss of revenue for the city.

These hijacked properties are often controlled by criminal syndicates who exploit vulnerable people, charging them rent for staying in unsafe and overcrowded conditions.

In response to the growing crisis, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and other city officials have undertaken operations to reclaim these properties.

However, the process is fraught with challenges, including legal battles, threats of violence from the hijackers, and the need to find alternative housing for displaced occupants.

National government officials have also recognised the problem, with the Department of Human Settlements pointing out the need for stronger legislation and enforcement mechanisms to protect property rights and address the housing shortages that drive people to occupy buildings illegally.

 

source:Hijackers have a new target in South Africa – and it’s not your car – BusinessTech

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