PROJECT: HOW BUILDING HIJACKING HAS EXPANDED INTO AFFLUENT RESIDENTIAL AREAS (PART 2)
- Isabel Spies
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
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Building hijacking in South Africa is no longer confined to dilapidated inner-city blocks.
As enforcement pressure, public scrutiny, and property saturation increase in central business districts,
criminal syndicates and other criminal individuals have adapted their tactics and expanded into affluent residential suburbs. This evolution reflects a broader pattern of organised crime following opportunity, profit, and reduced resistance.
This was clearly illustrated in our exposé of the notorious criminal Mr. Emile de Witt,
who once again made national headlines by adding another offence to his extensive criminal record—
unlawfully occupying an R8.9 million Bryanston residence,
failing to pay the agreed rental, and refusing to vacate the property:
1. SHIFT IN CRIMINAL TARGETING PATTERNS:
Syndicates and other perpetrators now deliberately target high-value residential properties because they offer:
Greater rental yield per unit.
Lower suspicion in quiet neighbourhoods.
Delayed detection due to absentee ownership.
Affluent suburbs often contain large homes, townhouse complexes, and sectional title units that are vacant, under-occupied, or owned by investors, making them attractive to organised groups.
2. EXPLOITATION OF VACANT AND TRANSITIONAL PROPERTIES:
Hijackings increasingly occur in:
Homes tied up in deceased estates.
Properties under renovation or redevelopment.
Foreclosed or bank-owned properties.
Short-term rental investments left unattended.
Criminals move in gradually, sometimes under the guise of caretakers or tenants, and then lock out owners, change access points, and assert control.
3. USE OF FRAUD INSTEAD OF FORCE:
Unlike inner-city takeovers that rely on overt intimidation, suburban hijackings often begin with document fraud and deception, including:
Forged lease agreements.
Fake power of attorney documents.
False claims of tenancy rights.
Corrupt collusion with estate agents or insiders.
This creates legal confusion, delaying eviction and giving syndicates time to entrench themselves.
4. ILLEGAL SUBLETTING IN SECURE ESTATES AND COMPLEXES:
In gated communities and apartment complexes:
Legitimate tenants illegally sublet units to syndicate-linked operators.
Units are overcrowded and subdivided internally.
Body corporates discover the problem only once utilities, noise complaints, or crime escalate.
The outward appearance of security masks internal criminal exploitation.
5. ABUSE OF TENANT PROTECTION LAWS:
Criminal networks deliberately exploit:
Eviction delays under PIE legislation.
Court backlogs.
Owners’ fear of reputational damage.
By the time matters reach court, properties are often already financially compromised and structurally damaged.
6. MONEY LAUNDERING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL RENTALS:
Affluent areas provide an ideal channel for:
Laundering proceeds from drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal rentals.
Mixing legitimate lease payments with illicit income.
Hiding criminal proceeds behind seemingly lawful tenancies.
This is particularly prevalent in high-end apartments and mixed-use developments.
7. REDUCED COMMUNITY VIGILANCE:
In wealthier areas, there is often an assumption that:
Security estates are immune to hijacking.
Crime is an inner-city problem.
Private security presence equals full protection.
Syndicates exploit this complacency, knowing suspicious activity may go unchallenged longer.
8. IMPLICATIONS FOR AFFLUENT PROPERTY OWNERS:
The spread of hijacking into affluent areas results in:
Significant asset devaluation.
Prolonged legal battles.
Increased insurance risk.
Reputational harm.
Escalation of secondary crimes (drug trade, theft, violence).
Building hijacking has evolved into a mobile, adaptive organised crime model.
As inner-city opportunities become contested, syndicates increasingly target affluent residential properties where higher returns, legal complexity, and slower detection offer strategic advantages.
No property segment is immune; prevention depends on active management, legal vigilance, and early intervention.
Please refer to our upcoming project, which provides practical guidance
on safeguarding your property
against hijacking and unlawful occupation.
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