Joburg’s housing scam suspect appears in court
Linah Maphopha, who ran a housing scam in the Ivory Park area was last Wednesday, 05 June 2019, granted bail of R1, 000 by the Rabasotho Magistrate’s Court in Tembisa. Maphopa was arrested on the 4th of June 2019, after she illegally sold a RDP house for R81, 000.
She was charged with fraud and corruption and is expected to appear again in court on the 8th July 2019.
Maphopha is a former volunteer who was working for the City’s department of housing stationed at Lord Khanyile Community Centre in Ivory Park.
In May 2018 the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) department received a complaint from a resident of Ivory Park alleging that she bought a RDP house from a certain City of Johannesburg volunteer stationed at Lord Khanyile Community Centre.
She alleged that the suspect wanted a deposit of R40, 000 and balance of R40, 000 was going to be paid at a later stage. The complainant was showed a certain RDP which the suspect claimed that it was belonging to a foreign national and the City was taking it away from the occupant.
The complainant then agreed to the sale of the RDP house for a total of R81, 000. The amount was then paid to the suspect’s bank account in February 2017.
When the complainant realized that she was scammed she then reported the matter to GFIS and the Police. The suspect was then arrested following investigations into the matter.
This is not the first time that the suspect is arrested for the same offence. She was also arrested last year for illegally selling two RDP houses for R150, 000.
The City of Joburg continues to appeal to residents who may have information on the illegal sale of stands and RDP house to come forward. The information will assist law enforcement agencies as they continue to investigate these cases throughout the City.
They are encouraged to report any fraud and corruption activities through our 24hour tipoff hotline 0800 002 587.
