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Philippi councillor accused of fraud

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WARD councillor Fikiswa Nkunzana faces charges of fraud after she allegedly duped a Philippi man into paying R80 000 for a house belonging to someone else.

Andile Komani said he met Nkunzana, an ANC councillor, in February 2014 when he needed a house for his family. “I met Nkunzana at her office and told her I needed a house. She then introduced me to a Mr Zolani, who told me he was selling house number 10818 in Zazulwana Street at Philippi for R80 000.

“Nkunzana asked me to bring a marriage and children’s birth certificates, my wife’s ID and mine. I brought these and she promised the house would be registered in my name.”

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “A case of fraud was opened for investigation.”

Nkunzana refused to comment, saying the matter was “with the courts”.

Komani said after he met Zolani, Nkunzana advised him to withdraw R12 000, of which R10 000 was to be given to someone named Mr Shakes, of Africon/Aurecon in Century City, so the house would be registered under his name.

“We went there and met Mr Shakes and I paid R10 000 in an envelope. R2 000 was given to Nkunzana. Shakes came back with three documents – one with a reference 40404/MAR/(961) had an Africon letterhead, one was a certificate of occupancy with a Aurecon logo and the third was a beneficiary status form of a house in Brown’s Farm with my children’s details on it. With these documents, Shakes said the house was mine. I then went to the bank to transfer R68 000 to an account I was given by Nkunzana,” he said.

Aurecon spokesperson Jeff Isaacson said: “We can confirm that we had an employee known as ‘Shakes’. He resigned from Aurecon in the middle of 2015.”

Isaacson said allegations would be taken seriously. “This is implicating a Aurecon employee and we will internally investigate the allegations. We note from the letter that a criminal case was opened with SAPS.

“We welcome this and we will fully co-operate with any official investigation.”

Komani said Zolani was not present when the transaction was completed. “I questioned his absence, but Nkunzana assured me that the house belonged to Zolani. I asked for a house key and she gave me directions to a house in Crossroads where Zolani was staying. He gave me a house key without a burglar bar key.

“He told me he lost it… and advised me to break the burglar (bars). To my surprise I found Qwanti, who produced proof the house was his.”

Komani said he then wrote to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, hoping Nkunzana would be held accountable. Mantashe’s PA, Mandisi Mavata, has confirmed receipt of a letter of complaint against Nkunzana.

[Source: IOL]
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