Corruption in Joburg: MMC Mabaso says officials tip off shop operators and undocumented workers before raids
Corruption and collusion within the City of Johannesburg are undermining law-enforcement raids in the inner city, with illegal business operators allegedly tipped off by municipal officials before inspections take place.
Mlungisi Mabaso, the City of Joburg’s Human Settlements MMC, raised the alarm after a raid on commercial properties in the inner city on Thursday, saying city officials were working with businesspeople unlawfully occupying municipal spaces.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Mabaso said this was the third time that city-led operations had been compromised by advance warnings to targeted businesses.
“This was my third operation in the inner city, focusing on the commercial spaces. We learnt that one of the officials went on to advise these people who are operating, prior to our visit because upon our arrival we saw that they were already expecting us on the ground and they had moved some of the items out of the stores. Others were still trying to move items out the stores.”
Mabaso said the level of preparedness among shop owners and workers pointed to insider involvement, with some premises found deserted when officials arrived.
“Even today when we arrived, we saw that they were expecting us. Some of the shop owners were not there, and some of the employees were not there. They have employed foreign nationals, undocumented foreign nationals, because when we engage with some of the people using these shops, they gave us information but when we arrived there, there were no workers in some of the shops, there were no owners in some of the shops.”
According to Mabaso, the sudden absence of workers and owners contrasted sharply with earlier engagements, further strengthening suspicions of collusion between city officials and business operators.
“There were South Africans in some of the shops, which is an indication that these people were advised in advance before our arrival and it is something that I have requested the executive to look into because it is happening to us now for the third time. When we plan for these operations, by the time we get on the ground, already someone has advised these people.”
The City of Johannesburg has in recent months intensified raids on illegally occupied commercial buildings in the inner city as part of broader efforts to enforce by-laws, recover municipal revenue and clamp down on unsafe and non-compliant business operations.
Mabaso said the alleged leaks not only weaken enforcement efforts but also entrench lawlessness, calling for urgent action against officials implicated in tipping off business owners ahead of inspections.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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