Three years correctional supervision for Lenasia couple
Married couple Mr. Muzwamandla and Elizabeth Poto who were both found guilty in the illegal sale of state land in Lenasia have been sentenced to three years correctional supervision on fraud charges by the Johannesburg Magistrate Court today. They were also given 12 months imprisonment for trespassing, suspended for 12 months.
Both the criminals defrauded residents their money by selling them state owned land. Human Settlements MEC Ntombi Mekgwe has welcomed the sentence however she was expecting them to serve jail time. “We welcome the sentence because it has been proven that they committed fraud. It was my wish to see them serving time in jail so that a stronger message could be conveyed that crime does not pay,” said MEC Mekgwe.
MEC has warned other people who were involved in the illegal sale of stands in Lenasia that they are still going to pursue them. “We know that there are those who are still being harboured and we would like to warn them that we are still on their trail. They need to pay for their crimes and we are not going to rest until they face the full might of the law. My plea to those were defrauded is to come out and expose those people,” said Mekgwe.
To date three fraudsters have been found guilty and serving sentences ranging from three to six years in prison. Amongst those found guilty is Pastor Mandla Dlamini (76) who is serving a three year sentence.
The Gauteng Human Settlements laid charges against the suspect after a thorough investigation by the department’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Unit.
For more information contact:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
