Note to Editors: The following remarks were delivered during a media briefing by the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, who was joined by the MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, and the Acting Group Head of GFIS, Ms Lizzie Ramogale. The media briefing took place at the Johannesburg Metropolitan Centre.
MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso
City and Entity Officials
Members of the medias
Allow me to use this platform to convey my condolences once again to the families of the late Ambassador and ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte and, arts and culture great, Mr Don Mattera, who the City recently honoured during the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Joburg Theatre. I would like to also commend the work of the MMC for Community Development, Cllr Ronald Harris, and the Joburg City Parks and Zoo for their professionalism and efficiency in making the necessary burial arrangements at West Park Cemetery at such short notice.
Members of the Media,
In a bid to curb the increasing number of people who have fallen victim to scam artists posing as the MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, the Johannesburg Multi-Party Government has roped in the assistance of law enforcement agencies at all levels to bring those guilty to book.
This morning, MMC Mabaso met with senior officers from SAPS Hillbrow, including the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Mbiza, the Hawks, Organised Crime from National SAPS Head Office as well as the City Group Forensic and Investigation Service. There was also a representative from the Provincial Community Safety Department present.
This approach is in line with collaborating and coordinating with all spheres of Government to repair and rebuild the country’s economic capital so that we can truly call Joburg a City of Golden Opportunities.
The deliberate action by MMC Mlungisi Mabaso and the Department of Human Settlements is a result of a growing trend, where scammers put up fake and fraudulent social media accounts in order to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their monies by promising them an opportunity to either jump the RDP housing queue or to sell them non-existing houses.
As the Joburg Multi-Party Government, we wish to be very clear on this matter: The Department of Human Settlements, its Officials and Entities would never ask that beneficiaries pay for RDP homes or assist them to jump the queue.
RDP houses, the application thereof and the allocation are free of charge to qualifying residents.
Those that qualify for RDP houses are already destitute and asking someone who is already struggling to live a life of dignity to pay for a free service is beyond immoral, it is something someone without a conscience would do.
The Joburg Department of Human Settlements has been inundated with walk-ins and calls from victims who have lost their hard-earned money to scammers using different fake social media accounts which constantly use the MMC’s face and the Department’s name to offer credibility to their fraudulent endeavours. These fraudsters have even registered cell phone numbers in the MMC’s name, which they use to extort money from vulnerable residents.
On 9 July 2021, a case of fraud was opened with the Joburg Central Police Station. The case was later handed over to the Hillbrow Police Station, where Officers moved with speed to apprehend the perpetrators.
Three suspects were apprehended in Limpopo, in February 2022. The suspects were found in possession of fake posters emblazoned with pictures of the MMC. Furthermore, they had already registered a fraudulent cell phone number to scam people from.
The suspects Tokolli Sedibe (29), Thuli Katjedi (29) and Ronny Magabe (35) made their first appearance in court on 22 February 2022, which was for a bail application. Their next court appearance will be on 1 September 2022.
MODUS OPERANDI
Scammers often use phonecalls social media platforms particularly Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, LinkedIn and Twitter to lure their victims, as it offers a sense of anonymity.
The perpetrators target Joburg-based residents who are in dire need of housing. Their modus operandi includes getting their victims to pay a deposit.
The perpetrators, extort victims’ money by convincing them to pay via Pep, Shoprite, Standard Bank and Capitec Bank. The amounts range from R3,000 to R20,000, to “help move things along” or “kick start the process”. Unfortunately, after receiving the money, the perpetrators collapse all forms of communication they had with the victims.
Residents are therefore warned to remain clear of making any payments towards people or businesses that claim they will get them houses or onto the housing database. Any official communication about the Department, including matters related to RDP housing, will come from the City’s authorised website and social media platforms.
As we dig deeper into this matter, it is becoming clear that we are dealing with multiple syndicates, who might be working closely with Human Settlements Officials. The Law Enforcement Agencies are working to centralise all cases.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
The Joburg Department of Human Settlements is currently in the process of getting all its social media accounts verified, to distinguish parody and fraudulent accounts from the Department’s official pages.
MMC Mabaso and the Department of Human Settlements will continue to issue statements, conduct media interviews, and conduct awareness campaigns warning against these scams; and we will lay charges against anyone that seeks to defraud the City’s residents.
The City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) along with the Hillbrow SAPS are working hand-in-hand in an attempt to defuse these mushrooming fake accounts and the harm that they cause.
Furthermore, the police have advised the Department and MMC to encourage victims to open cases of fraud to help strengthen the current case with the Hillbrow SAPS.
On 13 July 2022, the Office of the MMC visited Braamfischer and Phiri in Soweto to help scammed residents to open cases. But the residents feared to open the cases saying, they will be attacked by the perpetrators.
We cannot let criminals get the final word.
We will also be embarking on a sustained awareness campaign, and we ask the media to assist us in this endeavour.
WHERE TO REPORT HOUSING SCAMS
Residents are urged to always remain vigilant, scrutinise all the information they receive and follow only the official social media platforms of the City of Johannesburg. Any and all communication about the Department will come out through the City’s official website and official social media platforms.
The Joburg Department of Human Settlements is calling on all community members to:
• Report any suspicious activities or individuals to GFIS at Sappi Building, 48 Ameshoff Street, 6th floor in Braamfontein or
• Call the fraud hotline number on 0800002587 or
• Use the email: whistle@joburg.org.za.
• Use GFIS Twitter: COJ_GFIS
Over and above this there are outreach programmes to educate communities.
Confidentiality is guaranteed.
The official social media accounts of the Department of Human Settlements are: Twitter: @CoJDoHS, Facebook: City of Joburg Human Settlements Department, Instagram:
Department of Human Settlements.
We cannot let criminals run free; nor can we allow them to undermine the Multi-Party Government’s deliberate efforts to build an inclusive, caring, safe and secure City.
For media queries, please contact:
Mabine Seabe
Director: Mayoral Communication
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
084 677 7851
22/07/2022
