Mpumalanga housing stand scam: Ward councillor arrested
An ANC ward councillor in eMbalenhle, Mpumalanga, was arrested on Sunday for alleged fraud.
Ridge Times reports that the arrest follows a woman's complaint to the police that a stand was sold to her in an alleged scam.
According to the police reports, the woman was looking for a stand to buy in eMbalenhle in September last year. She was referred to a man who allegedly acted as the middleman.
The woman apparently paid R30 000 into an account, which the ward councillor has access too. The councillor allegedly received R8 000 of the money.
The complainant claims the councillor then issued a confirmation letter for the ownership of the stand and instructed her to build a temporary structure on the empty stand.
The complainant became suspicious of the ownership confirmation letter as the stand belongs to the Govan Mbeki Municipality. She reported the incident to the police, which led to the councillor's arrest.
The 'middleman' is still at large.
The councillor is due to appear in court today. His name is being withheld until his court appearance.
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