BLOEMFONTEIN – Bloemfontein’s Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team arrested four people, including an advocate and his company, in another major property fraud case in Bloemfontein. The suspects are Advocate Siseko Leonard Cengcani (55), Tshadi Annah Molelekoa-Taso (44), Nomalizwe Brenda Nkwane (45) and Nontsikelelo Grace Mkololo (41), as well as the advocate’s company Cengcani and Associates.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, says all arrestees are remanded in custody following the postponement of the case for a bail application tomorrow – Wednesday, 18 March in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. They appeared in court yesterday, Monday, facing a charge of fraud.
Their arrest resulted from intensive investigations regarding the alleged defrauding of several persons selling properties through four entities. She said properties were advertised in a local newspaper.
“It is alleged that during 2020, complainants responded to property advertisements published in the newspaper by entities including Blueprint Corner, QST Trading, Anti-Poverty and Senothesha. The complainants reportedly viewed the advertised properties through an agent and subsequently entered into purchase agreements. The complainants suffered a combined financial prejudice of approximately R1,135,000,” says Matoti.
She says the victims were provided with banking details and instructed to deposit funds, with the promise that they would occupy the properties within three months. “However, after making payments, the complainants neither received the properties nor any refunds. An investigation revealed that the properties in question were never for sale, rendering the transactions invalid,” says Matoti.
Also read: Fraud-accused advocate to seek bail amid ongoing property sales investigation
