Caroline Ntawuleng Koloane (31) was found guilty and sentenced by the Middelburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 06 September 2023 for Fraud, Theft and Corruption.
During October 2020, he accused, Koloane colluded with Vusimuzi Phakane who was working at Emalahleni Local Municipality and Justice Sambo to defraud unsuspecting community members.
The accused made the victims to pay for RDP houses which were meant to be provided free of charge.
Koloane was tasked with advertising a neglected houses and Justice Sambo posed as the owner of the houses.
The paperwork was completed and the meetings with the buyers were held at the Municipality boardroom so that the deal appear legitimate.
The two victims, Senzenjani Sambo and Angel Mathebula respectively suffered damages amounting to R80 000-00 (Senzenjani) and R25 000-00 (Mathebula). They both bought one house from the same people.
The matter was reported and referred to the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for Further probe.
During Investigation the accused were linked with the crime and were arrested. The accused appeared in court on several occasions.
The matter was finalized and the accused were sentenced as follows:
Justice Sambo was found guilty and sentenced on 14 March 2023 as: follows: He was sentenced on two counts of fraud to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years’ on condition that he is not found guilty on the offence of fraud or an offences which includes dishonesty during the period of suspension.
Vusimuzi Pakane was found guilty on two counts of fraud and sentenced on 25 August 2023 as follows. Six years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of five years’ on condition that the accused is not found guilty of offence that has an element of dishonesty committed during the period of suspension. The accused was declared unfit to possess firearm.
Carolina Ntawuleng Koloane(31) was found guilty by the Middelburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 06 September 2023 on two counts of fraud and sentenced as follows: Three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that the accused Is not found guilty of offence that has element of dishonesty committed during the period of suspension.
Further the accused was in terms of section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act, ordered to compensate the victims of crime as follows: Senzenjani Carol Sambo an amount of R5 000 and Angel Ntombikayise Mathebula R5 000 on or before 11 September 2023.
The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks Brigadier Gregory Gaillard applauded the Investigating officer and the prosecution authority for the sentence imposed to the accused. We hope that this sentence will serve as a lesson to other perpetrators of crime.
Members of the public are advised not to buy any properties from the streets. They are also requested to report illegal activities which are happening in their communities.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48265.
