SIU uncovers R58 million Ekurhuleni municipal land fraud

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has uncovered an alleged fraudulent scheme involving the transfer of municipal land worth about R58 million in Ekurhuleni.

The investigation found that 208 of 221 vacant stands in Villa Liza township, near Boksburg, were transferred to private individuals between 2018 and 2022 without council resolutions or lawful authority. The municipality also did not receive any money from the transactions.

SIU head Leonard Lekgetho announced the findings during a media briefing on Wednesday, saying the investigation was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2024 under Proclamation 195 of 2024.

The investigation focused on allegations of serious maladministration, unlawful conduct and possible losses suffered by the municipality or the state.

The SIU completed its investigation and submitted its final report to the Presidency in July 2026.

Forged documents used

According to the SIU, the investigation uncovered what it described as a deliberate scheme to defraud the municipality.

The unit found that a person presented as an estate agent was allegedly involved in identifying unallocated municipal land and facilitating its transfer to private individuals.

However, the SIU said the person had already died on 10 January 2022, according to records from the Department of Home Affairs.

The investigation also found that Moki Attorneys Incorporated, a conveyancing firm that was not on the municipality's panel of approved attorneys, lodged documents at the Johannesburg Deeds Office to facilitate the transfers.

The firm is owned by Kabelo Valentine Moki.

The SIU said forged rates clearance certificates and fabricated powers of attorney were allegedly used during the transactions.

The investigation found that Moki and his wife, Makhosazana Emelda Moki, personally benefited from the transactions. They allegedly acquired 73 stands through Velamelda Trust and Mokolane Investments.

The stands were reportedly sold for R18,000 each, while municipal valuations ranged from R80,000 to R3.7 million.

The properties were later resold for an average of about R250,000 each, according to the SIU.

Some of the properties have since been developed, but the municipality is not generating revenue from them.

Cash payments

The SIU said the scheme allegedly involved identifying unallocated municipal land, arranging fraudulent sales and working with the conveyancing firm to create documents needed for registration.

Payments for the stands were allegedly made in cash, making it difficult to trace the transactions.

The SIU said it found no evidence that Deeds Office officials or municipal officials participated in the scheme.

Of the 221 properties covered by the investigation, 13 were not transferred by Moki Attorneys. Eight were transferred by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, two were privately owned, two remain municipal property and one could not be located in municipal or Deeds Registry records.

SIU moves to recover land

The SIU obtained an interim preservation order from the Special Tribunal in June 2026 preventing occupants or registered owners of the 208 stands from selling, transferring, leasing, donating, developing or otherwise dealing with the properties.

The unit is also set to approach the Special Tribunal on Friday, 18 September, to have the unlawful transfers reviewed and set aside and to recover losses suffered by the municipality.

The SIU has referred 208 matters to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for possible criminal prosecution.

Moki Attorneys has also been referred to the Legal Practice Council, while referrals have been made to SARS over possible undeclared income and tax irregularities.

A further 147 referrals were submitted to the Financial Intelligence Centre over alleged non-compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act.

SIU calls for tighter controls

The SIU has recommended that Ekurhuleni strengthen its systems for managing municipal land.

Among the recommendations are improved verification procedures before municipal services are registered for new properties, regular inspections of municipal land and annual audits of immovable municipal assets.

The unit has also recommended that the municipality consider an agreement with the Deeds Registration Office to introduce safeguards against the unlawful transfer of municipal property.

The SIU said the Villa Liza investigation highlights the need to protect public land from fraudulent transfers and ensure that municipal assets remain available for the benefit of communities.