The Home Affairs Department is probing the status of several foreign nationals following an operation into illegal living arrangements in Wynberg.
Cape Town law enforcement officers raided what they call “problem buildings” in Ebor road, in the early hours of Friday morning.
The City says these properties have been used to unlawfully sub-rent partitioned rooms.
It’s believed around 170 undocumented foreign nationals were living in poor conditions with numerous illegal electricity and water connections.
Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says they’ve often received complaints about the area.
“The four A.M. operation [on Friday] came amid ongoing complaints about the state of Wynberg. The properties that formed part of the operation are well documented as problem buildings and are all being illegally occupied in spite of the extremely poor conditions. Apart from enforcement staff, officials from the City’s electricity department were on scene as well – to document and disconnect illegal electrical connections; which of course pose a huge fire risk.”
Smith says he will continue running similar operations across Cape Town.
Image: Facebook/JP Smith
