A member of the Evaton Development Forum was found guilty on Thursday and sentenced for fraud after he illegally sold an RDP house. Mr Lerato Motshoeneng was sentenced to two years; one year suspended for five years by the Sebokeng Magistrate Court.
Motshoeneng, and three other suspects who were later acquitted of the crime, solicited bribe from a victim who paid R5 000 as a deposit towards an RDP house. The victim was sold an RDP house that formed part of Evaton Renewal Project for R15 000, but he was unable to take occupation as there were people already living in that house.
After failing several times to recoup the money paid towards the house, including going to the Small Claims Court, the victim decided to blow the whistle. The accused (Motshoeneng) was willing to refund the victim but only his share of the R5 000 as he claimed the money was split amongst the other role players. The victim refused and decided to report the matter at the Parliamentary Constituency Office in the area.
The matter was referred to the Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing- Anti Fraud and Corruption Unit for investigation. The investigation ascertained that the property in question and others shown to the victim had already been transferred to their rightful owners by the department.
Local Government and Housing MEC Ntombi Mekgwe said it is sad that communities continue to fall victim to people they elected into power. “The accused was elected by the community to represent them at meetings with government and other stakeholders in the Evaton Renewal Project. Then he solicited bribe from the very people who entrusted him with the responsibility to be their eyes and ears. He abused his position and I am glad that he has been found guilty,” said Mekgwe.
She urged the beneficiaries of RDP houses not to abandon their houses after taking occupation. Mekgwe said this after the investigation by the department found that some of the houses shown to the victim were unoccupied despite records showing that they had been allocated to beneficiaries. “If beneficiaries no longer wish to be in occupation of the houses built for them, they should return them to the department which will then re-allocate to other deserving beneficiaries on the list. An unoccupied house could also trigger illegal occupation,” said Mekgwe.
For further information contact:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
