EThekwini Municipality has stepped up efforts to reclaim Durban’s inner city from illegally occupied buildings and criminal activity following a major multi-agency operation that targeted a hijacked building in the Central Business District, resulting in several illegal occupants being taken in by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further processing and the seizure of alcohol allegedly being sold unlawfully.
The early morning operation, led by the Durban Metropolitan Police Service (DMPS) in partnership with the SAPS, was carried out at 44 Lancers Road, a property believed to have been unlawfully occupied and linked to illegal activities.
The operation forms part of the Municipality’s ongoing Inner-City Regeneration Programme, which is focused on reclaiming hijacked buildings, restoring public safety, and revitalising Durban’s urban core.
As part of the regeneration programme, 11 problem buildings have been refurbished by their owners, six have been demolished, including a major high-profile site, and 16 have undergone structural repairs to improve safety and habitability.
During this morning’s raid, several individuals believed to have been occupying the building illegally were detained by SAPS and transported to police facilities for further profiling.
Authorities also confiscated alcohol allegedly being sold unlawfully from the premises.
The coordinated operation brought together officials from SAPS, DMPS, the Human Settlements Directorate, Social Facilitators, eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services, Building Inspectors, Water and Sanitation, Electricity, Waste Management, the Strategy Office, Security Management and Health.
The multidisciplinary team secured the building, verified occupants, assessed compliance with Municipal by-laws and identified health, safety and structural risks requiring intervention.
The operation sought to enforce Municipal by-laws, address unsafe and unlawful occupation, improve living conditions and restore law and order in the inner city.
It reflects the Municipality’s continued commitment to tackling illegal occupation and creating safer, more liveable neighbourhoods for residents, businesses and visitors.
Today’s operation also marked a significant milestone for the DMPS with the successful first operational deployment of its new Smart Policing Technology.
Officers utilised body-worn cameras and Personal Digital Assistants to enhance officer safety, strengthen accountability, improve operational efficiency and provide real-time documentation throughout the operation.
The Municipality remains steadfast in its determination to reclaim hijacked buildings and prevent them from becoming hubs for criminal activity.
Through sustained, intelligence-led law enforcement operations and coordinated interventions across municipal departments, the City is working to build a cleaner, safer and more resilient Durban where the rule of law is upheld and communities can thrive.
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