{"id":171313,"date":"2018-01-20T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-20T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/171313\/empd-and-saps-target-hijacked-buildings-in-germiston\/"},"modified":"2018-01-20T16:04:32","modified_gmt":"2018-01-20T14:04:32","slug":"empd-and-saps-target-hijacked-buildings-in-germiston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2018\/01\/20\/empd-and-saps-target-hijacked-buildings-in-germiston\/","title":{"rendered":"EMPD and SAPS target hijacked buildings in Germiston"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a number of abandoned buildings in Germiston which have been declared unsafe by the metro.<\/p>\n

Many of these buildings were abandoned by the legitimate owners due to economic frustrations and have since been targeted by criminals taking advantage of those desperately seeking accommodation.<\/p>

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The metro has caught on to the degradation these buildings have brought to the city and has decided to do something about it.<\/p>\n

The EMPD and SAPS held a joint crime prevention drive targeted at hijacked buildings in Germiston.<\/p>

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A five-storey building located on the corner of Meyer and Odendaal streets was targeted on Wednesday, between 8pm and 10pm.<\/p>\n

The building, which was declared unsafe for habitation a while ago, was found with tenants who were made to live in very unhygienic conditions.<\/p>\n

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The combined forces of the EMPD and the SAPS being briefed at the parade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The EMPD and SAPS found that the building was divided into 90 compartmentalised rooms, where many families were crammed.<\/p>\n

Tenants were found using candles and paraffin lanterns for lighting and illegal electrical connections were made for those with power.<\/p>\n

\u201cTenants claimed that an individual by the name of \u2018Mandla\u2019 and his committee collected R300 monthly rent from them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the tenants are former residents of the Marathon informal settlement and the rest claimed they were from KwaZulu-Natal,\u201d said Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, spokesperson for the EMPD.<\/p>\n

A lot of these buildings are used to harbour stolen and hijacked vehicles, as well as any stolen goods.<\/p>\n

Kgasago added: \u201cThe law enforcers\u2019 strategy is to periodically pounce on all the identified hijacked buildings until the city is cleaned of this scourge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the search led to no arrests, an in-depth investigation has been opened and efforts to track down \u2018Mandla\u2019 and his committee are underway.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:<\/p>\n

Another fire engine attacked by mob<\/a><\/p>\n

Four arrested for possession of drugs<\/a><\/p>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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