Inner city hijacked building reclaimed in Johannesburg
A two-decade long challenge to regain ownership of a hijacked building in Hillbrow has finally come to an end for one inner city landlord.
An inner city landlord, has finally regained ownership of his hijacked building, Claridge Court, after it had been illegally occupied for over 20 years.
‘A LANDMARK VICTORY’
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Claridge Court Hillbrow
— 🍎 Jenna 🇿🇦 🇷🇺 🇵🇸 (@jenna_original) January 27, 2024
Returning a hijacked building to its rightful owner and arresting crooks. Well done @MTshwaku @EFFSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/Q6leMxCfy5
In an operation by the City of Johannesburg, Hillbrow SAPS and Johannesburg Metro Police Department, the two hijackers were arrested.
Two others fled the scene when police arrived on the scene.
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The City’s MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku, has called the recovery of the building as a landmark victory against war on hijacked buildings and reclaiming the city against lawlessness.
“We are making progress as the City in terms of getting rid of hijackers and we will reclaim all hijacked buildings from these criminal syndicates” says Tshwaku.
The buildings rightful owner David Phahladira, has with the help of his children, over the years made numerous failed attempts to regain control of the building.
LAWYERS WORKING WITH HIJACKERS
Tshwaku has revealed a possiblity of the hijacking syndicates are in cahoots with the courts, lawyers and deeds offices in illegally taking ownership of buildings.
“There has been allegations that Vermaak Attorneys and Jan Van de Bos, are working with the Masters of the Gauteng High Court to get frivolous court orders and are getting preferential treatment, where matters of the court roll are concerned”, the MMC says.
“The deeds office has also been fingered, as ownerships are changed without the knowledge of the owners” Tshwaku added.