Crime
MMC Mabaso alleges city officials tipped off illegal shops before Joburg raids
When raids start feeling rehearsed
Anyone who lives or works in Johannesburg’s inner city knows the pattern by now. Law enforcement rolls in with flashing lights and official clipboards, only to find shutters down, shelves half empty, and workers nowhere to be seen. What should be surprise inspections increasingly look like scheduled appointments.
That frustration was laid bare this week by Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso, who openly accused city officials of tipping off illegal business operators before municipal raids. Speaking after yet another compromised operation, Mabaso said corruption inside the City of Johannesburg is actively sabotaging efforts to restore order in illegally occupied commercial spaces.
A third raid, the same warning signs
According to Mabaso, the most recent raid was not an isolated failure. It was the third time inner-city operations had been undermined by advance warnings. When officials arrived, shop owners were already moving stock out, while others had simply disappeared.
In some cases, entire premises were deserted. Workers who had previously engaged with city officials were suddenly absent. Mabaso said this pattern strongly suggested insider involvement rather than coincidence.
What raised further concern was the role of undocumented foreign nationals employed at some of these businesses. During earlier engagements, workers provided information to officials. Yet when raids took place, many of those same shops were empty, reinforcing suspicions that word had travelled ahead of inspectors.
Why these leaks matter
City-led raids are meant to enforce bylaws, recover lost municipal revenue, and clamp down on unsafe or noncompliant businesses. When officials allegedly leak information, those goals collapse.
Instead of accountability, illegal operators get time to hide evidence, remove stock, or simply shut their doors for the day. The result is a city stuck in a loop, where lawlessness becomes harder to uproot and honest compliance feels optional.
Mabaso has warned that these tip-offs do more than embarrass the city. They entrench corruption and send a message that rules can be bypassed if you know the right people.
Public reaction and inner-city fatigue
On social media, Joburg residents have reacted with a mix of anger and weary acceptance. Many say the allegations confirm what they have long suspected, that enforcement failures are not about lack of planning but about internal sabotage.
For inner-city communities dealing with overcrowded buildings, unsafe trading conditions, and declining infrastructure, the sense of betrayal cuts deep. Raids are often presented as a reset button for neglected areas. When they fail, hope goes with them.
What happens next
Mabaso has formally asked the city’s executive to investigate the leaks, stressing that urgent action is needed against officials implicated in tipping off business owners. Whether those investigations will lead to real consequences remains the key question.
For now, the story exposes a hard truth about Johannesburg’s inner-city cleanup efforts. You can plan the perfect operation, but if the warning comes from inside the house, the door will always be locked before you arrive.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
