House hijackings have become all too familiar in South Africa.
One of these cases caught our attention because it involved an alleged serial fraudster who had featured on #TheDeviShow - Emile de Witt.
This time, Emile had taken up residence in a R9-million mansion and had failed to pay rent or utilities, totalling R1-million. He also claimed to be a vulnerable person and was evicted by the courts, but to the landlord’s horror, he was given an additional 106 days to stay there rent-free.
It was during this time that Emile then sold some of the landlord’s furniture valued at over R400,000 and that’s when the long arm of the law finally nabbed and arrested him.
We take a tour of the house with the rightful owner and witness how the house had been ransacked and neglected. Even worse, we get a glimpse of the dark and dirty sex side hustle Emile was apparently concocting on the side.
The bigger issue, though, well-heeled tenants are hiding behind the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act, knowing only too well that the court system is cumbersome and matters can take well over a year.
We ask – is it time to amend the act to protect the rights of landlords who are being taken for very expensive rides?