MUNICIPAL employee has been implicated in a syndicate that fraudulently changes ownership of widowed women’s property in Mamelodi, Pretoria.
At least two women nearly became victims recently when unknown people visited them with what appeared to be fraudulent papers in an attempt to take over their houses.
An intern working for the City of Tshwane in Mamelodi has been fingered for releasing details of one of the women to the syndicate.
Thapelo Ratho, of the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco), said they are aware that there are people using a bogus conveyancer to switch ownership of property without the rightful owner knowing about it.
“They also work with officials from Tshwane municipality. They must be exposed because they are taking advantage of powerless women, especially widows,” said Ratho.
A group of unknown people broke down doors and attempted to throw furniture out of the house of one of the women.
They took her house keys, but neighbours intervened. She said one of the men who was in the group had previously tried to buy her house.
“He had a clearance certificate saying he had bought the house. He did not have an eviction letter. They woke up my children and threw my things outside. The community came to my rescue,” said the woman, who did not want to be named for fear of further victimisation.
She showed Sowetan a letter from the Master of the High Court showing that she inherited the house in 2006.
Four people, pretending to be from the human settlements department, visited Lindi Ntshangase’s home on Monday claiming the house did not belong to her.
“I chased them out because one of them was a lady that is known for defrauding people in Mamelodi,” said Ntshangase.
Her husband bought the house in 1988. They divorced in 1994 and he passed away in 2006. Sowetan has seen her title deed.
Ntshangase reported the matter to both the municipal offices and the police.
Human settlements spokesman Xolani Xundu said no cases of hijacking of private homes in Mamelodi had been brought to their attention.
He urged the public to verify people visiting their homes claiming to be government officials by calling the relevant departments.
Tshwane metro has promised to investigate the matter before making a comment.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
