MUNICIPALITY OFFICIAL AND TWO OTHERS APPEARED IN COURT FOR RDP HOUSES FRAUD, CORRUPTION, FORGERY, THEFT AND MONEY LAUNDERING
MPUMALANGA – Vusumuzi Phakane (52) Emalahleni Municipality official, Justice Sambo (46) and Caroline Koloane (29) appeared before the Emalahleni Magistrate Court on Friday 13 August 2021, after they were arrested by members of the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team Mpumalanga on Wednesday 13 August 2021 for Fraud, Corruption, Theft, Forgery and Money Laundering.
It is alleged that during October 2020 the accused Phakane who is employed by Municipality as Community Municipal Coordinator had access to information on RDP houses around Emalahleni and colluded with Sambo to sell those houses. The two approached Kgoalane and used her as the advertiser.
The unsuspecting victims would respond to the advert seen on social media and be directed by the syndicate to the Municipality offices to complete the agreement of sale forms.
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They would be further advised to go to the lawyers for the agreement and the victims became convinced that the sale is legitimate. They would be told to make the payment into Sambo’s Nedbank account. The syndicate allegedly shared the money amongst themselves.
Whilst the victim occupies the newly purchased house, other victims would also come and produce documents as proof of purchase for the same house. The victims lost approximately R300 000.00
The matter was reported to the Hawks for investigation. During the investigation, it was established that the lawful owners of the houses are still alive. The suspects were linked to the allegations, traced and arrested.
The three suspects appeared in court, Phakane and Kgoalane were released on R10 000 bail each while Sambo was remanded in custody because he has previous convictions. The case was postponed to 20 August 2021 for Sambo’s formal bail applications
The Provincial Head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena warned the public about the scammers who are unlawfully selling the Government houses. She further reiterated that there is no way that the government houses can be sold. The public is therefore encouraged to report such types of incidents. Major General Mokoena concluded.
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