Mapaballo Borotho
- Joburg officials have uncovered an allegedly hijacked Bryanston property operating as an informal settlement with over 30 Wendy houses.
- Authorities say the property housed illegal electricity connections, poor living conditions, and suspected criminal activity.
- Emergency Services have ordered the immediate removal of all Wendy houses due to safety risks.
The City of Johannesburg’s Public Safety Department has busted an allegedly hijacked residential property in Bryanston on Thursday.
Joburg officials, alongside Metro Police officers, led the operation after receiving information about a property being illegally occupied in the area.
The people currently residing in this leafy mansion in the heart of a Johannesburg suburb have allegedly taken over the house in Grosvenor since 2020.
According to one of the owners, Alan Agiloti, his now-divorced wife returned from a holiday in 2020 and found her house hijacked.
Kaya News reporters visited the property and witnessed the horrible living conditions. The house, with high walls and a heavy gate in the leafy suburb of Bryanston, has three Wendy houses placed at the entrance.
There are even more wooden structures built across the yard.
A number of wires hang from the dilapidated main house, illegally connecting electricity to the Wendy houses.
[WATCH]The City of Johannesburg public safety department has swooped in on a residential property which has been allegedly hijacked in Bryanston
Public safety MMC Mgcini Tshwaku led the operation with EMPD officials after receiving information that people had been illegally… pic.twitter.com/giTj8aGVWs
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) December 4, 2025
Kaya News also spoke to the man who claims to be the owner, Tshifiwa Ramalwa, who presented an offer to purchase the house.
Ramalwa claims the house was on auction when he first moved in back in 2020.
He currently leases more than 30 Wendy houses to tenants, some identified as illegal immigrants, allegedly paying R2 000 per month.
Authorities believe the property had become a heaven for crime, drug activity, and possible illegal firearms, prompting urgent intervention.
Johannesburg Emergency Services have ordered the immediate removal of the Wendy houses due to serious safety and compliance risks.
The structures pose fire hazards and health concerns.
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