Officials, Police Officers Among Alleged Illegal Occupiers in Low-Cost Housing — Germiston Evictions Reveal Shocking Abuse

Germiston — A large-scale eviction operation in Germiston has uncovered shocking allegations of abuse in the city’s low-cost housing programme, with police officers, metro officials, and other high-earning individuals accused of occupying units meant for the poor.

Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner Fred Kekana revealed that during Tuesday’s eviction of over 1,000 residents from 422 units, authorities recovered uniforms belonging to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD). He alleged that some occupants were high-salary earners who did not qualify for subsidised housing and had been living there without paying rent.

According to Kekana, some individuals owned multiple state housing units — in some cases as many as six — and were illegally subletting them to others, including foreign nationals, for personal profit.
“These are not the intended beneficiaries,” he said. “They have been pocketing rent, privatising the area, and blocking access to people who genuinely qualify for low-cost housing.”

Officials say the eviction followed months of consultation and a court order issued on 26 June. While some lawful tenants remain unaffected, many others have been removed amid fierce resistance, including road blockages, stone-throwing, and even the torching of the local Home Affairs office in a suspected act of diversion.

Authorities are continuing investigations to identify the full network of those allegedly involved in the illegal occupation and subletting scheme.