Pretoria – Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo has welcomed the sentence of a Lenasia land syndicate kingpin, saying this should send a strong message to every citizen that crime does not pay.
Richard Zikhali, 49, will remain in jail for the next five years, after the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court found him guilty on 94 counts of fraud.
He was arrested in 2010 for defrauding people of millions of rands by selling land belonging to state to destitute residents.
Zikhali made admissions for his involvement in the crimes of selling state owned land. At the time of his arrest, he was charged alongside his wife Hlengiwe Ximba who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years for corruption (three of which is suspended).
The other suspect in the same case was Michael Magodola, who was also facing 94 counts of fraud, but was found not guilty because of the admissions made by Zikhali.
“People should respect the law. If you commit crime the long arm of the law will find you,” said MEC Mamabolo.
He said Zikhali must stay in jail for his deeds. “This man has stolen from the poor and the state. People have been defrauded and lost their hard earned money. We were supposed to build RDP houses for those who cannot afford to pay for their own houses,” said MEC Mamabolo.
He urged people not to fall prey to unscrupulous individuals who go around masquerading as officials of government.
The MEC also mentioned that the department is losing millions as they have to pay for the rates and taxes to the municipality because the ownership of the stands are in the name of the department.
In another case, suspect Aaron Mkhabela, who is out on bail, was arrested after he posed as an official of the Gauteng Human Settlements and tried to sell RDP houses and flats in Lehae and Mzimhlope to prospective buyers.
The suspect was arrested in a sting operation by the Human Settlements Anti-Fraud and Corruption Unit, Provincial Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) and the HAWKS, after a tip off from one of the prospective buyers.- SAnews.gov.za
