The Hawks urgently seek victims of a housing scam in Bethlehem and surrounding areas. In a shocking development, detectives from the Bethlehem Serious Corruption Investigation Unit are urging victims of an alleged housing scam to come forward. The investigation centres on Blue Key Properties, a local brokerage accused of defrauding home buyers in a scheme involving misleading advertisements and fraudulent property sales.
According to reports, potential buyers were enticed by advertisements in a local newspaper to view properties in Bethlehem and Phuthaditjhaba.
After expressing interest, victims were allegedly coerced into signing offers to purchase and transferring deposits directly into the brokers’ bank accounts. However, many never received house keys, and some reportedly discovered they had been sold properties that either belonged to deceased individuals or were otherwise uninhabitable, leading to potential eviction threats from legitimate owners.
So far, 66 victims have emerged, sharing harrowing accounts of financial loss and emotional distress.
Petrus Wilhemus Viljoen (57) and Kamolase Sammy Mofokeng (47) were arrested on 30 August following the issuance of a warrant for their arrest. They appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, where they were denied bail. The case has since been postponed to Monday 17 November.
“Victims should not be afraid to come forward as we need their assistance” urged Warrant Officer Dudu Mocware of the Hawks who is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information can call Mocware on 079 505 3288.
