20.7 C
Cape Town
Thursday, April 10, 2025

Mfuleni suspected housing scammers nabbed

Published on

 

 

An in-depth fraud investigation linked to a Mfuleni housing scheme has led to the arrest of 4 suspects, including 2 City of Cape Town officials.

 

The Police’s Andre Traut says the Provincial Commercial Crimes Unit was deployed to probe allegations of fraud after the City of Cape Town made plots available at the housing development last year.

 

It’s understood the suspects had promised homes to 11 potential buyers, and persuaded them to deposit large amounts of cash into a bank account that was controlled by the 2 municipal workers.

 

 

 

“2 City of Cape Town officials collaborated with two others to market these plots, and with their criminal scheme, they persuaded 11 prospective buyers to deposit large sums of money into a bank account which was shared with the two officials,” says Traut.

 

Authorities say the victims were swindled out of R900 000.

 

“The two City of Cape Town officials are aged 51 and 55, and the two other suspects are 28 and 36 respectively,” says Traut adding that more arrests can be expected.

 

They are scheduled to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court today.

 

READ MORE: Heritage approval for Woodstock Hospital social housing project

 

Lizell Persens
Lizell Persens
Lizell is a Cape Town-based news anchor, reporter and transcriptionist. She has been a journalist for the past 10 years, and started her career as a TV producer. The avid reader enjoys writing poems, fast cars, music, travelling, and exploring new food.

Latest articles

JP Smith calls for control over ballistics to reduce gun violence

    City of Cape Town Safety and Security MMC JP Smith has called on the Western Cape Government to facilitate talks with the South African...

Calls for security systems at all courts to be overhauled

    Veteran criminal defence attorney William Booth says security systems at all courts should be overhauled.   On Tuesday, a man was shot and killed on the...

Home Affairs Department roots out six more bad apples

  In an ongoing effort to root out the bad apples from its system, the Department of Home Affairs has dismissed six more officials for...