Correctional supervision for former City official found guilty in the Lenasia land Saga
Former City of Joburg official Sifiso Handsome Litau was today sentenced to correctional supervision and 5 year suspended sentence for 3 counts of fraud at the Johannesburg Magistrate Court for his involvement in the illegal sale of state land in Lenasia.
Litau was also ordered to repay the people he defrauded their money back. All repayment must be done on or before the 5th of the every month starting from 5th of January 2015.
Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo has welcomed the sentence and said this will send a strong message to other officials that crime does not pay. “We are not going to protect anyone as we remain zero tolerant of corruption. If there are allegations of wrongdoing we are going to investigate and make sure that such people are taken out of the public service system,” said Mamabolo.
Mamabolo said they are happy that Litau has been sentenced and the fact that he is no longer going to serve the public. “He took advantage and abused his position. Public servants should not abuse their positions of power at the expense of citizens,” said Mamabolo.
Litau resigned last year from the employ of City of Johannesburg. He tendered his resignation during the internal disciplinary hearing where three witnesses who bought land from him gave evidence. His resignation letter was accepted and signed by the presiding officer at the disciplinary hearing.
He is among the list of other people who have been found guilty by different courts for their involvement in the illegally selling of state land, ranging between R15 000 to R500 000.
Kingpin in the illegal sale of land Richard Zikhali (49) was sentenced to 5 years prison by the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court early this year for his involvement in the illegal sale of land. Zikhali was arrested in 2010 for defrauding people millions of rands by selling them the state owned stands.
Zikhali could have been sentenced to 10 years in prison as that would fit the crime that he committed but the magistrate considered the fact that he had already spent four years in prison as he was denied bail since his arrest in 2010. He made admissions for his involvement in the crimes of selling state owned land.
The Gauteng Department Human Settlements laid charges against the suspects after a thorough investigation by the department’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Unit.
For more information:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
