Phoenix property nightmare: residents left without homes or refunds

MORE than 20 Phoenix residents are demanding accountability after allegedly paying their life savings to a property developer implicated in the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) report.

- MONISHKA GOVENDER [e-mail]

ACCORDING to the SIU report, the municipality sold the land, which comprises an open sports field and residential flats, for R34 200. It was then resold for R12 000 000. | LEON LESTRADE Independent Newspapers

(LEON LESTRADE Independent Newspapers)

The report revealed irregular land sales and corrupt relationships between developers and municipal officials.

The residents claimed they had paid hundreds of thousands of rand, but had not received completed homes or transfers, despite court orders.

The residents said they had approached one of the developers whose name was mentioned in the SIU report (the developer's name is known to the POST) to purchase properties.

They said the developer had failed to deliver on the houses, ignored court orders, and resold properties.

The residents have since opened criminal cases, and laid complaints with the SIU and the office of the eThekwini Mayor.

Thasmeena Moola, 46, said the dream of owning a home turned into a “nightmare”.

She said in 2018, she paid a R300 000 deposit for a home in Longcroft.

Moola said the balance was due on completion.

She said, however, the house “took years to build”, and the family later discovered that the building plans were not approved.

“We asked for our money back in 2022 because the developer did not keep to the agreement. We later found out that the house was eventually completed and then sold to someone else, who has been living there for over a year.”

Moola said she sought the help of an attorney and approached the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

“Following the court action, the developer signed an agreement to reimburse the full amount with interest, but has not paid a cent to date. I repeatedly call the developer's office but no one answers. I send emails almost daily begging and pleading for my money. But there is no response.”