Retired lecturer loses R500 000 in housing scam

SIU REPORT

- NADIA KHAN

A DAMNING Special Investigation Unit (SIU) report which revealed widespread corruption in eThekwini Municipality's Infill Housing Programme (IHP) in Phoenix, has opened old wounds for many individuals including a retired lecturer who paid a R500 000 deposit for a home, and others who had applied to purchase vacant land.

According to the recently-released report, developers allegedly purchased municipal-owned land that were earmarked for the building of low-income housing at bargain prices, then sold it for massive profits.

An 81-year-old woman, who declined to be named for the fear of her safety, said she had allegedly fallen victim to one of the developers (the name is known to the POST).

She said she now hoped swift action would be taken, including further investigations, after she allegedly paid a R500 000 deposit for a flat that was meant to be built by one of the developers in Woodview.

The retired lecturer, who was born in South Africa, and later relocated to the UK, said she wanted to return to the country in 2020.

“I moved abroad about 50 years ago. However, all of my family members, including my sisters, still live in South Africa. During one of my visits to South Africa, I met with a family member who told me about these flats that were going to be built in Phoenix, and that they intended on purchasing a unit. It was going to be a two-bedroomed unit with a little garden. This sounded wonderful, as I was retired and wanted to return to South Africa so I could be with my family, who live in Phoenix. We would be close to each other.

“When I came to South Africa I met the developer, who seemed to be quite professional. I never suspected what was to come. I was told that the total cost of the unit was R980 000 and I could pay a deposit. The balance was payable on completion,” she said.