Community service for R105 800 fraud

A 43-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb has been sentenced to perform 420 hours of community service for defrauding a woman of R105 800 in a botched housing deal.

Simon Sibanda was initially sentenced to 48 months in prison of which 12 months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.

The remaining 24 months were suspended on condition that he performs 420 hours of community service and restitute the complainant ZAR105 800.

Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze, presided over the matter.

“The complainant said she even lost five kilograms because of this. Cases involving dishonesty are on the increase in the western suburbs. There is a need to deter would-be offenders and show them that the law does not tolerate such behaviour,” said Mrs Marondedze.

Prosecuting, Mr Milton Moyo, said Sibanda committed the offence sometime in July 2022, where he duped Mrs Rosemary Ndlovu of the funds, after claiming that he owned a stand in Cowdray Park suburb.

“The offender misrepresented to the complainant that he was the owner of stand number 18598 Cowdray Park knowing that the stand did not belong to him, and that he was in a position to construct a four-roomed house for the complainant on the stand if he was paid US$13 000 as deposit,” said Mr Moyo.

He further stated that Mrs Ndlovu paid a deposit of ZAR90 000 towards the purchase of the house and Sibanda promised to commence construction of the house.

“Sometime in August 2022 after noticing that the accused was reluctant to construct the house, the complainant enquired from the Cowdray Park Housing Office about the ownership of stand number 18598 Cowdray and was informed that it did not belong to Sibanda. The complainant confronted the accused who made another misrepresentation that he had a two-roomed house number 18050 Cowdray Park, which he was offering the complainant and the complainant accepted it and paid (another) ZAR9 800 as deposit,” said Mr Moyo.

He said sometime in January 2023, Mrs Ndlovu was approached by a male adult who claimed that the house was his and he had bought it from Sibanda in 2021.

“Sometime in 2023 the accused person demanded the outstanding balance and promised to secure another stand where he will build the four-roomed house for the complainant, and he was given ZAR 6 000,” said Mr Moyo.