The City of Johannesburg raided two problem properties in Ferndale owing the city close to R5m in unpaid property rates.
The properties are believed to be ownd by the same person.
The city believes that the first property raided, on Vine Avenue, is being used as a brothel.
Several young women were found on the property, and a naked man was found in one of the rooms in bed with a young lady. He asked for his money back before making his way out of the property.

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For this property, the city is owed R2.2m in unpaid utility bills. Johannesburg Water cut off the water meter during the raid as it had been tampered with.

Social Development staff engaged with the young women to check if they had not been forced to do anything against their will. One suspected undocumented foreigner was arrested.

Makgafela Thaba, a regional director, explained that the property on Vine Avenue was identified as a problem property as it does not comply with the city by-laws. “They owe money, and they are illegally connected to water. We had received an application from the property to operate as a guest house; however, upon doing inspections, we realised that they are not complying with the approval we had granted them.” The granted approval was also revoked by the city.

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The second property on West Avenue is a double-storey building. Behind the house, there were close to 10 studio apartments built illegally. People and families are living in the apartments and they pay between R4 500 and R5 000 a month. Each unit has prepaid electricity.

The water meter was also tampered with, and Johannesburg Water removed it, and the electricity was also cut.

Thabe added that in the coming week, the city will begin a mega blitz on problem properties, raiding 10 of the worst in each of the seven districts in Johannesburg.

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