As recently reported by Times Live, the owner of a building in Denver, Johannesburg, with the assistance of the South African Police Services’ (SAPS) Property Hijacking Investigation Task Team and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), arrested squatters at the building after they had disobeyed an eviction order and had forcefully moved back into the building.
Following an investigation by the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS), it was confirmed that the building was indeed hijacked and that tenants were paying the hijackers a monthly rental amount of R800 each.
The squatters are due to appear in court where they will be charged with trespassing and contempt of court, and the keys to the building have now been handed over to the rightful owner.
When an owner, or person in charge of a property, lodges an Eviction Application (as required by The Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act) in any competent court to evict illegal occupants, one tends to ignore the fact that there is a risk that the illegal occupants might move back into the premises, especially if the premises will be vacant for some time. This recent action by the City and Police should give legal practitioners and owners of properties reassurance that they can count on the SAPS to assist owners and to act and arrest such illegal occupants or squatters who move back after the execution of an eviction order.
Lucky Sindane, spokesperson for the unit has reiterated that, “the unit is committed to ensuring that it stops the rot in the city and make it a prosperous and inclusive place for our people to live, work and play”.
In addressing a serious problem in Johannesburg, the City Council has now delivered a powerful message to illegal occupants – ignore eviction orders at your peril!
