Caroline Ntawuleng Koloane (31) was found guilty and sentenced for Fraud, Theft, and Corruption by
the Middelburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
Koloane is accused of conspiring with Vusimuzi Phakane, who worked at Emalahleni Local
Municipality, and Justice Sambo to defraud unsuspecting community members in October 2020.

The accused made the victims pay for RDP houses which were meant to be provided free of charge.
Koloane was tasked with advertising neglected houses and Justice Sambo posed as the owner of the houses.

To make the transaction appear legitimate, the paperwork was completed and discussions with the
buyers were held in the Municipality boardroom.

Senzenjani Sambo and Angel Mathebula, the two victims, were each awarded R80,000.00
(Senzenjani) and R25,000.00 (Mathebula). They both purchased the same house from the same
individuals.

The matter was reported and referred to the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime
Investigation for Further probe.
During Investigation the accused were linked with the crime and were arrested.  The accused
appeared in court on several occasions.

The matter was finalized, and the accused were sentenced as follows:
Justice Sambo was found guilty and sentenced on 14 March 2023 as follows: He was sentenced on
two counts of fraud to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years’ on condition that
he is not found guilty of the offence of fraud or offences which includes dishonesty during the period
of suspension.

Vusimuzi Pakane was found guilty on two counts of fraud and sentenced on 25 August 2023 as
follows. Six years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that the accused is
not found guilty of offence that has an element of dishonesty committed during the period of
suspension. The accused was declared unfit to possess firearm.

Carolina Ntawuleng Koloane(31) was found guilty by the Middelburg Magistrate Court on
Wednesday, 06 September 2023 on two counts of fraud and sentenced as follows: Three years’
imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that the accused Is not found guilty of
offence that has element of dishonesty committed during the period of suspension.

Further the accused was in terms of section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act, ordered to
compensate the victims of crime as follows: Senzenjani Carol Sambo an amount of R5 000 and Angel
Ntombikayise Mathebula R5 000 on or before 11 September 2023.

The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks Brigadier Gregory Gaillard applauded the Investigating
officer and the prosecution authority for the sentence imposed to the accused. We hope that this
sentence will serve as a lesson to other perpetrators of crime.

Members of the public are advised not to buy any properties from the streets. They are also
requested to report illegal activities which are happening in their communities.