Illegal occupations fuel crime fears on Ferndale streets
Drug activity and street crime linked to illegally occupied properties in Ferndale have left residents feeling unsafe in their own neighbourhood, according to accounts gathered during a visit to the site this week.
Residents of Ferndale have long complained about crime spilling from a hijacked property at the corner of Bond Street and Main Avenue. Although the building was recently cleared of illegal occupants, concerns about safety and criminal activity in the area persist.
This week, Rise Mzansi mayoral candidate Lukhona Mnguni visited the site to inspect conditions and hear directly from residents.
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People living nearby said the former occupation had left lasting scars. Drug activity in the area has reportedly increased, and residents said they were frequently targeted for petty theft, including phone snatches, while walking to and from work after dark.
Mnguni acknowledged that Ferndale’s situation was not unique, noting that hijacked and abandoned properties across Johannesburg often become entry points for crime.
“Property owners should not feel that they can simply abandon their properties for years and years on end and not expect that there might be an encroachment of criminal activities,” he said.
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He called for stronger cooperation between the municipality, property owners, and local communities to address both illegal occupations and the housing pressures that often drive them.
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