Inside the Bryanston house hijackings: How a quiet suburb became a new battleground

Bryanston is not a suburb most residents associate with hijacked homes or illegal occupations. Tree lined streets, high walls, and long standing family homes have long defined this corner of northern Johannesburg. That image took a sharp knock this week after city officials uncovered a hijacked property that had been quietly transformed into an informal settlement while the owners were away on holiday.

The discovery has now opened the door to a much bigger investigation, with authorities confirming that Bryanston may be facing a wider problem than first believed.

A holiday return that turned into a nightmare

The case came to light after homeowners returned to their property on Grosvenor Road to find strangers living inside their house. According to city officials, the home had been illegally occupied and altered during their absence, with services illegally reconnected and multiple people residing on the premises.

A coordinated raid followed on Thursday, involving city departments and law enforcement. What they found raised serious red flags.

Arrest made as firearms and vehicles seized

During the operation, officials seized two firearms and several vehicles. A suspect believed to be behind the hijacking of the property was arrested on site.

The arrest has become a key breakthrough in what the city says is a growing pattern in the area. According to Floyd Brink, similar cases have already been identified in nearby wards.

“There are about 17 similar houses that we have started to investigate,” Brink said, confirming that Bryanston is not an isolated case.

Millions owed in illegal electricity use

The raid also exposed the financial cost of hijacked properties. Illegal electricity and water connections were disconnected at the house, with City Power estimating the electricity debt alone at R1.2 million.

City Power chief operating officer Charles Tlouane explained that while services had previously been cut, occupants bypassed the system to restore power illegally. The city says those issues will only be resolved once the lawful owner is formally reinstated.

Zero tolerance message from the city

The investigation is being led by the City of Johannesburg, which has signalled a tougher stance going forward. Brink said enforcement operations will be stepped up across the metro in the coming weeks, linking the crackdown to both safety concerns and the city’s financial stability.

Hijacked properties have long been a problem in parts of the Johannesburg CBD and inner city. What has unsettled many residents is the apparent shift into suburbs like Bryanston, traditionally viewed as low risk.

Residents react as concern spreads online

News of the raid sparked strong reaction on social media, with residents expressing shock that such activity could happen unnoticed in a well established suburb. Some questioned how long the property had been occupied, while others called for tighter monitoring of vacant homes, especially during holiday periods.

Community groups have also renewed calls for better coordination between residents, private security, and city departments to spot early warning signs before hijackings take root.

What happens next

The city has confirmed that further operations are planned as part of an ongoing metro wide crackdown on hijacked and illegally occupied properties. For Bryanston homeowners, the message is clear. Property hijackings are no longer an inner city problem, and vigilance is becoming just as important in the suburbs as it is downtown.

As investigations continue, residents will be watching closely to see whether the city’s zero tolerance promise translates into lasting action on the ground.

{Source:The South African}

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