Latest news with #OperationKunakisa
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- The Citizen
Operation Kunakisa comes to Region B
On July 7, Acting Executive Mayor Kenny Kunene, along with members of the MMC and various city entities, led Operation Kunakisa, a high impact service delivery programme, into Region B. The programme started along Noble Road, Industria, where they found two warehouses, one cutting wooden material and another manufacturing blankets, both with illegal electricity connections. Read more: Region B director is ready to accelerate service delivery They also apprehended 10 foreign nationals hiding in the buildings, as well three Chinese nationals, one female and two males, said to own the blanket manufacturing warehouse, as, at the time, none of them had any form of identification on them. 'We're targeting buildings that are non-compliant,' Kunene said sternly. 'We're also apprehending any foreigner that does not have papers.' The following videos show the extent to which Kunene is willing to let this operation go, with Kunene entering the wood cutting warehouse fiercely, seeking the owner of the property, another where he questions the three foreign Chinese nationals, and another that shows the dramatic apprehension of one of the individuals found hiding in one the warehouses. This operation is ongoing, with more buildings to be attended to in such a manner. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
Randburg raid targets hijacked buildings and illegal electricity usage
Operation Kunakisa, led by Acting Executive Mayor Kenny Kunene, took place in Randburg on July 5. The operation, which included the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and a private security company, targeted buildings hijacked by undocumented foreigners and properties using the city's power supply illegally. Read more: Tackling hijacked buildings and illegal foreigners During the raid, seven buildings were visited, and shocking conditions were discovered, including a room used as both a kitchen and bedroom, with dozens of eggs being washed in a tub, and some rotten in the fridge. City Power officials revealed that one of the buildings owed R3.3m, due to unauthorised connections. Tenants claimed they had paid the property owner but were unaware of the illegal electricity usage. @caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: Acting Executive Mayor Kenny Kunene leads a high impact service delivery operation in Randburg, focusing on by-law enforcement and clean-up ♬ Hard News – DM Production Kunene highlighted the serious issues associated with hijacked buildings, stating: 'Our people, South Africans, are being trafficked. Young girls are being trafficked in these buildings that are hijacked… Drugs are being hidden and distributed from these hijacked buildings. Also, these hijacked buildings have got electricity, yet they are not paying.' An incident occurred during the raid when a JMPD officer was hit by an undocumented foreigner, leading to an arrest. @caxtonjoburgnorth Ext 9 resident Sarah Maluleka speaks out after her home was left in disarray when members of the anti-illegal immigration group stormed her property in Alexandra on July 4, 2025. Immigration Ext9 ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North – Caxton Joburg North MMC Kabelo Gwamanda Nkoko emphasised the need for by-law enforcement, saying: 'You can see here, these people, they've been breaching, stealing electricity. By doing that, they're taking the services away from our people… This area in Windsor has been problematic for many, many, many years. So, we promised our residents that we're going to change and enforce the by-laws, and make sure that each and every one, our residents, they live in peace and harmony.' The operation was deemed a success, with Kunene expressing gratitude for community co-operation. The operation is set to continue on July 8, his last day as acting executive mayor. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
WATCH: Kenny Kunene closes crèche, says homeless foreigners destroying bridge in Joburg CBD
He also lamented the hijacked buildings in the CBD, which are allegedly using illegal electricity and water. Acting Joburg mayor Kenny Kunebne with law enforcement agencies inspect homeless encampments near Braamfontein cemetery in Johannesburg, 2 July 2025, located under Joburg's bridges. Acting City of Johannesburg Mayor Kenny Kunene led an operation targeting buildings allegedly occupied by undocumented immigrants. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/ The Citizen Acting Johannesburg Mayor Kenny Kunene took Operation Kunakisa to the inner city on Wednesday, where he inspected buildings and homeless encampments located under bridges. Accompanied by members of the mayoral committee, Kunene's inspection is part of the mayor's high-impact service delivery programme, which aims to enhance community services. 'The City [of Johannesburg] acknowledges that tackling homelessness requires coordinated efforts from officials, community organisations and residents. This initiative aims to assess living conditions and identify solutions to address homelessness,' said the city in a statement on Wednesday. ALSO READ: Kenny Kunene warned me many moons ago, says Ramaphosa on Joburg CBD Kunene accused the homeless foreigners of destroying some of the bridges in the CBD. 'We went to the bridges today because we heard that the bridge on Smith [street], which has collapsed twice in less than a year, and we went to see the damage that is being caused on the bridges by these illegal foreigners. We also went to the off-ramp of Selby and saw the damage that is being caused. So, it is not only taking jobs from South Africans and hijacking buildings, but they're also destroying the infrastructure of South Africans,' said Kunene. Kunene on hijacked buildings He further lamented the hijacked buildings in the CBD, which are reportedly using illegal electricity and water that is not paid for, and consequently costing the city. 'We're not collecting from over 600 buildings, let alone buildings that are owned by private. We're losing a significant amount of revenue in services, rates, and taxes, as well as electricity and water. There are water leakages, but water is also being redirected illegally to these buildings and houses,' said Kunene. ALSO READ: 'Not very pleasing' – Ramaphosa's tough talk to Gauteng ahead of G20 Summit 'City Power now has a backlog and debt to Eskom, but we can't account for the consumption of electricity because it goes to houses illegally and buildings. We're on this programme this winter to assist City Power so that law-abiding citizens get electricity. Now, people end up not getting electricity because of illegal connections. We're assisting residents in easing and limiting the burden on the power grid by disconnecting these illegal connections.' He said the City's initiative would ultimately save some jobs for South Africans, as foreigners are hired and paid less than minimum wages, in favour of locals. 'Some of these foreign nationals, or most of these illegal foreign nationals, when they come here, they're being paid slave salaries and being treated like slaves. But at the expense of South Africans getting jobs. So, the exercise that we're doing is part of job creation for South Africans.' READ NEXT: Kenny Kunene sends Trump a message over SA meeting 'snub'
