Authorities Probe Hijacked Bryanston Mansion: R164,000 Monthly Scheme Unearthed

• Johannesburg authorities are investigating a property hijacking of a mansion in Bryanston by illegal occupants
• The alleged hijacker earns over R164,000 monthly from 70 families despite an ultimatum to vacate
• More than 1,000 properties were hijacked in Gauteng, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and faster evictions

Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.

JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG - Johannesburg authorities are investigating a case of property hijacking in Bryanston, where a 3,500-square-metre mansion has been taken over by illegal occupants. The owner, who has invested years of savings into the home, discovered unauthorised structures and paying tenants occupying the property.

Seven-day ultimatum to vacate

The alleged hijacker reportedly collects over R164,000 a month from about 70 families, charging up to R2,000 per household. He claims the property was “abandoned” and says he holds a lease, though the validity of this agreement remains in question. Tenants have ignored a seven-day ultimatum to vacate, prolonging the legal battle.

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City of Johannesburg officials conducted a raid and inspection in December 2025, confirming the illegal occupation and rent collection scheme. Authorities said they are committed to removing all unlawful occupants, but legal procedures are delaying immediate eviction.

1,000 buildings in Gauteng reportedly hijacked

The Bryanston case highlights a broader trend of property hijackings across Johannesburg. In 2025, more than 1,000 buildings in Gauteng were reportedly hijacked, with syndicates exploiting vacant or vulnerable properties and collecting rent while owners fight protracted court battles.

Hijacked buildings in areas like Hillbrow and the CBD have been linked to overcrowding, safety hazards, and fatalities, including a 2025 fire that killed five people. Authorities have called for stricter enforcement, faster eviction processes, and increased monitoring of vacant properties.

3 More stories about hijacked buildings

A resident at the Ginger Park informal settlement in Paulshof, Johannesburg, has demanded compensation before agreeing to be relocated. He told officials that he and his family should each be paid R50,000. The demand was made during an oversight visit led by Johannesburg Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso on Sunday, 28 December 2025. The settlement, located between Witkoppen and Main roads, is illegally occupied on land owned by both the province and a private owner.

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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.

The ANC in Johannesburg has taken aim at ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba over his criticism of how the city is dealing with hijacked buildings in the inner city. The party rejected Mashaba’s suggestion that the current administration is engaging with criminals. The ANC described his remarks as misleading and driven by political point-scoring.

Source: Briefly News