40 People Arrested as City Raids Hijacked Luxury Home in Bryanston: SA Reacts
- The City of Johannesburg's Public Safety Department raided a hijacked Bryanston mansion on 4 December 2025
- Forced entry into the property uncovered a 'mini-village' inside, where undocumented foreign nationals were renting rooms
- 40 people were arrested during the operation, which sparked strong social media reactions amid growing concerns over hijacked buildings and illegal occupations across Johannesburg
Source: Twitter
JOHANNESBURG- The City of Johannesburg’s Public Safety Department conducted a major raid on a hijacked residential property in Bryanston on 4 December 2025. The operation was launched after the rightful homeowners returned from vacation and discovered that their house had been illegally taken over.
The raid was led by Public Safety MMC Dr Mgcini Tshwaku and Councillor Mpho Makhafola as part of the City’s intensified efforts to crack down on hijacked buildings throughout Johannesburg.
In a video shared by the Public Safety Department on X (formerly Twitter), officials and law enforcement attempted to communicate with the person claiming to be the 'owner' of the property, but he refused them entry.
When the occupants denied access, law enforcement officers scaled the fence and gate to force entry, discovering what officials described as a “mini village” inside. The house had been illegally partitioned into rooms that were rented out to undocumented foreign nationals for R2,000 a month.
According to The Citizen, 40 people were arrested during the raid, including several foreign nationals who were found living on the property. The occupied mansion was illegally partitioned into rooms, which were rented out to undocumented foreign nationals for R2,000 a month.
There was also a network of illegal electricity connections that City Power disconnected due to non-compliance. Reports state that the house had become a crime haven for criminal and drug activity.
Source: Twitter
Social media reacted strongly to the operation amid growing concerns about hijacked buildings in Johannesburg
@Kat4Kubs commented:
"There’s a number of there in that area! EFFSouthAfrica, while you are there take a drive on Eccleston Crescent there In Bryanston and check out the potholes!"
@GalazImpisi said:
"This is what happens when you defend illegality just because the perpetrators happen to be black and Africans, many black grannys in the townships have lost their properties due to this practice by foreigners, and you know why, because they know the EFF is there to defend them."
@wise30152072 stated:
"You got to be mad and completely bad to occupy someone’s house when they were on holiday, like you just saw a house and no one there and decided to take it."
@motho4ulife commented:
"I honestly thought this only happened in areas such as Rosettenville, Orange Grove and the like..."
@TheBlackOne said:
"There are so many in Bryanston, Rivonia, Randburg, Paulshof & city & traffic by laws not adhered to."
2 Briefly News articles on hijacked buildings
Previously, Briefly News recently reported that the City of Johannesburg evicted 145 individuals from an abandoned building. The city identified eight buildings in the city centre that had been occupied. The displaced individuals were relocated from the Moth house to a temporary shelter. Reactions among South Africans were mixed, with some expressing the opinion that the individuals would return to the shelter soon.
In another report, the Johannesburg High Court denied an application to evict illegal occupants from two hijacked buildings. This decision left many South Africans dismayed, as the buildings pose a security risk to those living inside. Angela Rivers, General Manager of the Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association, revealed that of the 2,000 buildings in the inner city, approximately 10% may be hijacked. She emphasised that illegal occupants are protected by law, making it difficult to evict them.
Source: Briefly News
