Hawks hunt man in 'government land scam'
THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, otherwise known as the Hawks, are looking for a man who allegedly sold local government land and built houses on it.
The 45-year-old man, who is known to Sowetan, is said to have pocketed over R15 million through the scam. Doubling up as a developer, the man is also allegedly building high-end houses on some of the land.
Fred Mokoko, spokesperson for Gauteng's department of housing and local government, said they instituted an investigation into the man's activities two years ago.
"Our anti-corruption unit is investigating similar cases across Gauteng. We have been receiving complaints from people who realised they had been duped after handing over large amounts of money to him for land that belongs to the provincial government," Mokoko said.
The man, who owns a hardware store and two luxury houses in Lenasia and Roodepoort, was nowhere to be found late yesterday. It emerged that he himself had been swindled of thousands of rands a couple of years ago by a similar group.
Mokoko said the latest victim - a woman - came to the department two weeks ago. She had papers bearing the department's logo with the signatures of the head of department and another top official.
"The anti-corruption unit connected the dots and his name came up. The woman, who wanted to invest in property, had paid him R1,5million for a piece of land in Bryanston," he said.
He said the woman showed them a title deed and transfer papers, which all looked legitimate.
"We will not sleep until we nail him. MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro wants him in prison," Mokoko said.
Kingmac
People dont learn mara. Bohodu ga bo a patele for short terms then long suffering for the whole family.Report Abuse
KEKEGIRL
MaAfrika borwa le corruption!do they ever think of being caught n their lives after that? some people...
Report Abuse
tebohom
I WONDER WHO'S THIS SUSPECT,BECAUSE I STAY IN LENASIA THEY 'RE CERTAIN SYNDICATES WHO HAVE BEEN SELLING GOV LAND FOR YEARS THER , PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO GOING TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR INQUIRES INCLUDING MYSELF BUT REPEATETLY BEEN TOLD THAT GOVERMENT DOESNT SELL LAND ANYMORE, THERE IS A MONITORIAM,TO SURPRISE MY EVEN DEVELOPERS ,ARE TAKIN OVER THE OPEN VELT,I INVITE SOWETAN /THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING TO GO LENASIA AND SEE FOR THEMSELFESReport Abuse
MTT
In sotho we say "Hae hlabe ehlabileng".They conned him first now he is.He can kill himself he has archieved what he wanted,the state wont have the right of repossesing everything,his family can survive.Report Abuse
Mantombi
What will happen to poor people that have paid for their houses to be built there? They were not aware mosReport Abuse