Peet Viljoen (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
The Johannesburg Metro Property Company (JPC) says the arrest of Peet Viljoen is an important development in a fraud case related to the alleged illegal transfer and sale of 33 properties belonging to the City of Johannesburg.
Viljoen is facing around 400 charges which include fraud, theft, falsification of documents and corruption. The case stems from allegations that he fraudulently sold state or municipal property in the JPC’s possession.
The investigation relates to alleged fraud and theft that was already identified around May 2010 by the JPC and the City of Johannesburg.
According to the company, the investigation revealed that 33 city properties of varying sizes, zoning classifications and municipal and market values were transferred and sold without due process. Some of these properties were reportedly transferred to unsuspecting buyers, while the city received no payment for the transactions.
The charge sheet in the case indicates that the properties that were illegally sold are worth more than R27 million.
Musah Makhunga, chief executive of the JPC, says the latest development shows that accountability and the protection of public assets are non-negotiable.
“The JPC has consistently supported law enforcement authorities in their pursuit of justice and to ensure that individuals involved in illegal conduct are subject to due process of law. Our responsibility is to protect municipal assets and safeguard the interests of residents who rely on these assets to support service delivery and economic development.”
The case was earlier reported to criminal law authorities in Tshwane and Johannesburg, with the JPC and the City of Johannesburg among the complainants. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (the Hawks) Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit subsequently led a comprehensive investigation into the alleged offences.
The investigation identified several persons believed to have played different roles in the alleged fraudulent transfers. Criminal proceedings were instituted and charges were brought against several accused. One of the accused is a former JPC employee who is believed to have been part of the larger scheme.
Maroela Media reported earlier that five more defendants are expected to stand in the dock with Viljoen. According to the state, the cases against Wiets Lourens Nell, Edwin Maringa and three other accused, who acted together with Viljoen with a common goal, will be placed on the court roll.
The JPC says the criminal process continues and that the constitutional rights of all accused must be respected until the court decides on the case.
In addition to the criminal process, the JPC, with the support of legal representatives, also took civil legal steps in the High Court in Pretoria to obtain court orders with which the fraudulent transfers could be reversed.
According to the JPC, all the immovable properties involved, in collaboration with the deeds offices, were recovered and re-registered in the name of the City of Johannesburg.
The JPC says this recovery is an important step to protect public property and maintain confidence in municipal management systems.
The company says it will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that all outstanding issues in the case are resolved through the legal process. The JPC says it will not comment further on matters that are still before the court.