Illegal occupants of state property to be kicked out: Gauteng

People occupying state properties illegally would be kicked out, Gauteng infrastructure development MEC Bheki Nkosi said on Monday.

"We want to make it clear to those who are staying in government houses without leases that their actions are illegal and we will come after them," said Nkosi.

Last week, 40 homes were raided in Boksburg North and 12 were found to have some irregularity.

"We found that several of the occupiers had no lease agreements with the department and some had even erected shacks and made unapproved alterations to the properties," said Nkosi.

Those without lease agreements would be removed from the properties or would have to enter a market-related rental agreement with the department.

Those who made illegal alterations were at risk of having their leases terminated, said Nkosi in a statement issued by his department.

"What is of even greater concern is that some of those illegal occupiers are sub-letting to poor residents."

Other irregularities on the properties included the harbouring of illegal immigrants, who were taken into police custody.

One of the houses raided last week was being used to store drugs and was immediately closed off.