The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has uncovered what it says was a fraudulent scheme involving the transfer of 208 municipal stands in Villa Liza, near Boksburg, into private hands, with the properties collectively valued at about R58 million.

The investigation found that the transfers, which took place between 2018 and 2022, were allegedly carried out without Ekurhuleni Municipality council resolutions or lawful authority.

SIU head Leonard Lekgetho said on Wednesday that the municipality did not receive any money from the transactions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the investigation in October 2024 under Proclamation 195 of 2024. The investigation examined the transfer of 221 vacant stands in Villa Liza Township and whether municipal officials or other parties had acted unlawfully.

Lekgetho said the SIU completed its investigation and submitted its final report to the Presidency in July 2026. A redacted version of the report is expected to be published on the SIU’s website.

According to the SIU findings, a person described as an “agent” allegedly identified unallocated municipal land and facilitated its fraudulent sale and transfer.

The investigation found that 208 of the 221 properties were transferred through what the SIU described as fraudulent documentation.

One of the people allegedly involved as an agent was deceased. The SIU said the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the person died on 10 January 2022.

The investigation also identified Moki Attorneys Incorporated, owned by Kabelo Valentine Moki, as the conveyancing firm involved in the transfers. The SIU said the firm was not on the municipality’s panel of approved attorneys and lodged documents at the Johannesburg Deeds Office.

The SIU alleges that forged rates clearance certificates and fabricated powers of attorney were used to facilitate the transactions.

It said the conveyancing firm certified that the documents submitted for registration were true and correct.

The investigation further found that Moki and his spouse, Makhosazana Emelda Moki, allegedly benefited personally from the transactions. According to the SIU, they acquired 73 stands through Velamelda Trust and Mokolane Investments.

The SIU said Deeds Office records showed that each stand was sold for R18,000, while municipal valuations ranged from R80,000 to R3.7 million.

The properties were subsequently resold at an average of about R250,000 each, according to the investigation.

Some of the properties have since been developed by their new owners. However, the SIU said the municipality has not received revenue from the properties.

The investigation also clarified that not all 221 properties covered by the proclamation were transferred through the alleged scheme involving Moki Attorneys.

Eight properties were transferred by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, two were privately owned, the municipality still owns two, and one property could not be located in the municipal or Deeds Registry records.

The SIU said there was no evidence that officials at the Deeds Office participated in the alleged scheme.

It also said it found no evidence that municipal officials were involved.

Cash payments for the stands allegedly made it difficult for investigators to trace the financial transactions.

The matter has been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which will consider further action and possible prosecution.

The SIU has made 208 referrals to the NPA relating to the alleged fraud.

Several other regulatory bodies have also been brought into the matter. The conveyancing firm has been referred to the Legal Practice Council, while referrals have been made to the South African Revenue Service to investigate possible undeclared income and tax irregularities.

The SIU also submitted 147 referrals to the Financial Intelligence Centre over alleged non-compliance with Financial Intelligence Centre Act requirements during the transfers.

The unit has already obtained an interim interdict from the Special Tribunal. Granted in June 2026, the order prevents occupants or registered owners of the 208 stands from selling, transferring, marketing, disposing of, leasing, donating, developing or otherwise dealing with the properties.

The SIU is set to approach the Special Tribunal on Friday, 18 September, seeking to review and set aside the unlawful transfers and recover losses suffered by the municipality.

Beyond the Villa Liza investigation, the SIU said it had identified weaknesses in the municipality’s systems for managing its immovable assets.

It recommended that Ekurhuleni improve verification procedures before municipal services are registered for new properties, maintain and regularly verify its asset register and conduct inspections of municipal-owned land.

The SIU also recommended annual audits of municipal immovable assets and an agreement between the municipality and the Deeds Registration Office to strengthen safeguards around transfers of municipal land.

The investigation’s findings and referrals do not themselves constitute criminal convictions. Any criminal liability will ultimately have to be determined through the appropriate legal and prosecutorial processes.

Lekgetho said the investigation demonstrated the importance of protecting municipal property and strengthening controls to prevent the loss of public assets.

The SIU said its work would continue in collaboration with law enforcement and regulatory bodies, with the recovery of municipal losses and the reversal of unlawful property transfers now forming part of the next phase of the matter.
At the time of print, Ekurhuleni Metro had not commented.