The accused asked for money from victims who wanted to buy RDP houses, which were to be provided free of charge. Koloane was tasked with advertising the houses, and Sambo posed as the owner of the houses.

Paperwork and meetings were completed with two buyers in the municipality’s boardroom so the deals appeared legitimate. Senzenjani Sambo lost R80 000 and Angel Mathebula lost R25 000.

The matter was reported and referred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Middelburg for further investigations.

• On March 14, Sambo was found guilty and sentenced to four years imprisonment on two counts of fraud, suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of any other offence, which includes dishonesty during the period of suspension.

• On August 25, Phakane was found guilty on two counts of fraud and sentenced to six years imprisonment, suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of any other offence. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

• On September 6, Koloane was found guilty by the Middelburg Magistrate Court on two counts of fraud and sentenced to three years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she is not found guilty of another offence.

Furthermore, Koloane was, in terms of section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act, ordered to compensate Senzenjani Sambo and Angel Mathebula with R5 000 each on or before September 11.

The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks, Brigadier Gregory Gaillard, applauded the investigating officer and the prosecution authority for the sentence imposed on the trio, “We hope that this sentence will serve as a lesson to other perpetrators. Members of the public are advised not to buy any properties from illegitimate sellers and to report illegal activities happening in their communities.”