07/07/2026
[WELKOM COMMERCIAL CRIME UNIT SECURES CONVICTION OF FRAUDULENT ESTATE AGENTS]
The Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Welkom has successfully secured the conviction of two bogus estate agents who defrauded an unsuspecting home seeker out of nearly R300,000.
The fraudulent scheme began on 18 January 2022, when the victim spotted a “For Sale” sign on a property in Bedelia, Welkom. The victim contacted the listed estate agency, which was owned and operated by Sylvia Bangani and Vusi Stevens Mlambo.
The two agents drafted an official Offer to Purchase, which was signed by both the complainant and the alleged property owner. The house was valued at R280,000, and with additional fees, the complainant paid a total sum of R293,032.52.
Bangani assured the buyer that she would personally manage the transfer costs and mortgage processing. Instead of facilitating the legal transfer of the property, the agents split the money with an attorney. The complainant never received ownership of the house or access to the property.
Following a thorough investigation, both agents were arrested. The implicated attorney subsequently paid back R140,000 of the stolen funds. The meticulous investigation by Detective Constable Mothekhe from the Welkom Commercial Crime Investigation Unit led to Mlambo and Bangani being found guilty of fraud and money laundering.
On Tuesday, 30 June 2026, the suspects were sentenced in the Welkom Regional Court. Vusi Stevens Mlambo and Sylvia Bangani were each sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.
The entire sentence was suspended for five years on condition that they are not convicted of money laundering (contravention of Section 4 of Act 121 of 1998) during the period of suspension.
The court further ordered the accused, jointly and severally, to pay back the remaining outstanding balance to the complainant in monthly instalments of R5,000 per month.
Property buyers are urged to verify the credentials of estate agents and agencies with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) on 087 285 3222 before transferring large sums of money into non-verified accounts.
