RENTAL AGENT CHARGED WITH STEALING R500 000

State alleges R500000 stolen over four years

A FORMER rental agent in Port Alfred has appeared in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crime Court for allegedly stealing almost R500 000 in clients’ money over a period of four years.

Sandra Cronje was suspended from her job at Sotheby’s Realty in Port Alfred after allegedly being caught red-handed having stolen cash from a client in early July last year.

She was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing later that month and a criminal case was opened.

After a long period of investigation, Cronje’s bank statements were obtained via the court and her bank in February. Her criminal case was officially handed over to the Commercial Crime Court Centre in July.

She was arrested and charged with fraud – or alternatively theft – on August 16 and taken to Port Elizabeth where she paid bail. She has appeared in court twice since then, most recently on September 12 for copies of dockets.

Cronje was employed as a rental agent by Sotheby’s for 10 years and was registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB). Her duties included collection and receipting of rental monies and handing over cash payments to the Sotheby’s finance clerk for banking purposes.

Although she was not entitled to do so, Cronje allegedly told various tenants that she was mandated or entitled to receive rental payments, deposits or admin fees (cash, EFTs or cheque) into her private bank accounts or keep it with her in person and that she would pay the money over to Sotheby’s.

She allegedly kept the money received for her own personal use.

All the alleged incidents took place between 2011 and last year. Twenty tenants and their corresponding landlords were affected, among them a tenant at Ravenswood Retirement Village.

The amounts totalled R494 267.10, of which R187 649.82 was diverted back to Sotheby’s, tenants or landlords and R306617.28 was misappropriated.