Africa-Press – South-Africa. A City of Johannesburg councillor is one of the 23 people who were arrested for hijacking a building. Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) pounced on illegal occupiers of a municipal property on Wednesday.
Gwamanda’s spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase said the municipality bought the building for R40 million in 2019 to use as a pound for the JMPD. However, the building has been occupied by a group that started construction work.
The raid emanates from the City’s search for alternative accommodation for residents of the Marshalltown building that was destroyed by last week’s blaze, in which more than 70 people died.
The City had earmarked the hijacked building as alternative accommodation for destitute residents. Ndamase said authorities arrested 23 people and were investigating the alleged involvement of a SAPS officer.
Gwamanda expressed his disappointment in the involvement of a councillor in the criminal activity.
“Today’s operation has resulted in the arrest of 23 suspects, among them a councillor of the City. The suspects face charges of malicious damage to property and City infrastructure, theft and vandalism,” he said.
The officials also confiscated a construction vehicle and building equipment.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
