Trustees face theft charges

Itsoseng residents finally get day in court

A R13-million land windfall from the City of Johannesburg has divided the poor Itsoseng informal settlement community near Lanseria.

At least R8-million allegedly vanished, resulting in some community members facing charges of theft.

The city bought 23 hectares of land – in which the Itsoseng informal settlement, northwest of Johannesburg, is situated – for R13.3-million in 2012 to develop the area.

The land belonged to a community trust with 250 beneficiaries, who were the initial residents of the settlement.

Seven Itsoseng Community Development trustees now face charges of theft in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court after funds were allegedly siphoned from the trust’s bank accounts.

According to the charge sheet, Hannah Tshabang, Nicholas Kwenaite, Marriam Nomnabo, Gumani Mukwevhu, Jabulani Mpofu, Olick Madike and William Tshabalala allegedly misused the trust’s money. Madike and Tshabalala allegedly opened a separate bank account without the consent of trust beneficiaries and spent the money.

“The state will allege that the accused acted in furtherance of common purpose when committing the crime of theft,” read court papers.

Patrick Makama, 55, one of the founding members of the trust, said the community only found out from reading the Sowetan in 2010 that their land had been sold to the City.

They only found out the trust had money when a letter meant for the trustees, and sent to them erroneously, showed there were large sums of money in the bank account, said Makama, who still lives in a shack.

“The trust’s money has to benefit our children who are sitting at home because we can’t afford to pay for their tertiary education.”

According to the charge sheet, only two of the seven accused still live in the area, with others now living in Diepkloof, Kya Sands, Hammanskraal and Vorna Valley in Midrand.

The accused have denied the charges, describing them as “baseless and spurious”.

The trial is set for next month.