The City of Joburg Property Company (JPC) has opened criminal cases after discovering that several City-owned properties were fraudulently transferred to private individuals without the City’s knowledge or consent.
Preliminary investigations revealed that forged documents and signatures, purportedly from officials of the City of Johannesburg, JPC, and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, were used in the unlawful transfers. The matter was identified through the City’s GIS property verification processes.
A total of 18 criminal cases have been registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) across several police stations. JPC has also approached the Gauteng High Court to obtain interdicts and court orders to return the properties to the City.
The City has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption and will continue working with law-enforcement authorities to protect municipal assets and hold those responsible accountable.