His comments follow a high-level inspection and enforcement operation in Industria West, conducted alongside Acting Mayor Kenny Kunene.

The operation forms part of the city's ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal occupations and restore law and order in the inner city. Several undocumented foreign nationals from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and China were arrested during the raid.

Inside one of the derelict buildings, officials discovered squalid conditions, with residents living without proper sanitation, ventilation, or access to safe drinking water. According to Mabaso, some individuals were found hiding under piles of blankets in dark, poorly ventilated rooms.

“I mean, right where we are, there are people who are residing here. There is a South African lady living with six children. We are finding it difficult to breathe here, so we are wondering how these children are surviving in this kind of environment,” Mabaso said.

He described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, expressing deep concern about the impact on vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. He also criticised the criminal syndicates behind the hijackings, accusing them of profiting from people’s desperation while compromising their safety and dignity.

“So those are the things that we need to deal with, because we can't really surrender our city to criminals. They've taken over and we must be hard on them so that we are able to bring back law and order in the city of Johannesburg,” he added.

The City of Johannesburg has vowed to intensify its operations against hijacked properties and illegal landlords, while also working to ensure that those displaced are assisted through social development programmes and alternative shelter options.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--