PICS: Hijacked Bryanston mansion reveals informal settlement with over 100 tenants

The raiding of a hijacked mansion in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Thursday led to the arrest of more than 40 people, including several undocumented foreign nationals.

The 3,500 square-metre residential home was illegally occupied in 2020 and carved into a maze of structures, with tenants being charged R2,000 per month for a room.

RELATED: Poverty & lack of affordable housing contribute to hijacked buildings in Joburg, commission finds

Speaking to 702’s John Perlman, reporter Alex Patrick says it is a highly valuable property.

“In 2020, the owner’s estranged wife was living in the building, and she and her son went on holiday to Cape Town. When they got back, 100 people were living in their house, and they weren’t allowed entry."

Patrick notes that the alleged hijacker claimed to be renting the property from someone else, but the documents provided were riddled with errors.

The property now houses about 70 structures, including wooden shacks, housing over 40 families, and solar power and a Jojo tank providing essential services. 

RELATED: City of Joburg targets hijacked buildings

“The house itself has been completely restructured to create rooms; there are about 33 rooms in the house. The kitchen was divided, and it created three rooms. It is organised chaos."

To listen to Patrick in conversation with 702’s John Perlman, click below: