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2010-07-23: JPC recovers R30-million worth of properties   

FOUR Johannesburg properties to the value of R30 million that were illegally transferred will now be returned to the City following successful court actions.

The City of Joburg Property Company (Pty) Ltd (JPC) has successfully obtained court orders for the retransfer of these four properties that form part of a group of 33 properties that were allegedly illegally transferred.

JPC is currently busy with the administrative process to register these properties back into the name of the City. It has also filed its notice of motion for the retransfer of a further 24 properties, worth approximately R160 million back to the City.

The  successful  court action can be attributed to the active participation of  the  citizens  of  Joburg City that enabled JPC to recover these assets worth  millions  of  Rands  back to the City. Citizens voluntarily provided valuable information at considerable risk to themselves that led to the uncovering of these illegal transactions. We commend them and encourage others to participate in the creation of the World Class African City by reporting such transactions to the City of Joburg and the law enforcement institutions.

On 19 July 2010, the second to the sixth respondents in the matter entered their notice of intention to oppose the retransfer of the properties to the City.  These respondents now have 15 court days to file their answering affidavits to set out the reason for them opposing the matter.

The  original  title  deeds  of  all  properties  still  remain  under  the possession and control of the JPC at an undisclosed location.

The properties were transferred via alleged forged applications for lost title deeds. Media reports indicate that officials at the deeds office have been suspended as a result.  These properties were transferred to two alleged purchasers within the course of a day. No monies were received by the City or JPC and signature analysis proves that all signatures of the Managing Director Ms. Helen Botes JPC have been forged.

JPC   has   also ensured that the City's land holdings amounting to approximately  65  000  properties  in  the Johannesburg and Pretoria deeds office  are  protected  by  the  registration  of  caveats preventing their transfer.  The JPC is currently in the process of conducting a land audit over the City's property holdings that stems back to the inception of JPC, being 10 years.

The  City and JPC have adopted a zero tolerance approach to fraud and is in the  process  of  finalizing  an internal forensic investigation on all JPC officials  to  ensure  that  any  form  of  corruption is rooted out at all levels.

JPC has reported the attorneys alleged to be involved to the Law Society of the Northern Province for investigation and with the intention that these attorneys be disbarred as practising attorneys.

The National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks have both been informed of the alleged fraud and are investigating the criminality of the various suspects involved in this potential syndicate.

While JPC has acted with tremendous speed in uncovering the transfers within days of its registration, JPC officials have been receiving numerous and   anonymous   death threats for pursuing the retransfer of these properties.  Despite  the  threats  and  intimidation,  JPC  officials  are determined  to proceed in the interests of the constitutional principles of openness, fairness, transparency and justice and to ensure that the Sandton Public  Parks and open spaces are retransferred to the City for the benefit of  its  people.  JPC further endeavours to take the necessary steps to prevent incidents of this nature happening in the future and to ensure that City land is managed for both social and economic benefits to its citizens.

The   JPC   objectives   are to harness the City's property portfolio transactions to increase economic growth and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE), while creating jobs and economic opportunities for the disadvantaged communities and businesses. The illegal transfer of property hampers economic development in communities because resources and time that should be used on developments is spent on legal processes that have to settle legal ownership before proceeding to approval and implementation of property developments.

We appeal to our Joburg citizens to be vigilant and help us in stemming the land and property hijackings by reporting all suspicious land and property transactions from people presenting themselves as agents or brokers of JPC.

JPC  does  not  use  agents  or brokers when leasing or selling property as legal  requirements  demand  that we have an open tender system that allows everybody  an opportunity to participate in the economic development of the World Class African City.

For further information and interviews contact:
Ashton Bodrick
JPC (Joburg Property Company)
Executive Manager
Stakeholder Management & Support
Tel: 011 339 2700 ext 260
abodrick@jhbproperty.co.za

Issued by:
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Communications
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za