Fourth RDP-fraudster arrested by Ivory Park detectives
Station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo welcomes the arrest, applauding police officers.
Ivory Park police detectives pounced on a 28-year-old suspect in connection with the fraudulent selling of a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house in Esselen Park.
Captain Nelda Sekgobela said Ivory Park detectives arrested the man on November 7 in Mamelodi, Pretoria. His three alleged accomplices were arrested earlier this year.
“This fraudulent transaction took place late last year and the three suspects were arrested in February and March this year. They are out on bail. One of the suspects is the son of the owner of the house. The latest arrestee will make his first court appearance and will join the others on November 28 to collectively answer to a charge of fraud,” said Sekgobela.
Ivory Park Police Station Commander, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo welcomed the arrests saying it demonstrated that officers were committed to ensuring that victims of crime get redress and alleged perpetrators were held to account.
“We want to understand how this was carried out and to discourage others from engaging in fraudulent activities. However, potential buyers are also encouraged to check on the legitimacy of the sale before committing their hard-earned monies as failure to do so will be too costly for them,” said Ngcobo.
He said a buyer should verify if the seller’s name was registered with the housing department’s deeds office and the municipality. They should accompany the seller to these departments to avoid fraudulently printed papers.
Ngcobo concluded that if the buyer was dealing with an agent, their name should appear on the database of the relevant bodies which regulate the trade to show that they were dealing with a credible individual.
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