Hijacked Buildings: A Growing Suburban Problem

On 21 January 2025, Johannesburg police raided a series of properties in Ferndale. The suburb has seen a rise in hijacked buildings used for illegal activities, operating outside safety and zoning laws. These homes look ordinary from the outside, but inside they tell a different story. Hijacked buildings were once an inner-city problem — now, a new wave is spreading through the suburbs. Produced by Kofi Zwana for Our City News.