Families who claim their homes were fraudulently sold are facing another anxious wait for justice after a housing fraud case involving a City of Johannesburg employee was postponed for the seventh time at the Lenasia Magistrates’ Court.
Cynthia Ntshangase, a receptionist at the Pimville housing office in Soweto, appeared briefly before Magistrate Syfred Mati on Tuesday. She faces allegations of fraud and corruption linked to the unlawful sale and transfer of residential properties.
The matter was postponed to 30 November 2026 to allow her legal representative additional time to examine extensive documents submitted by the prosecution. According to a report by GroundUp, approximately 18 alleged victims gathered outside the court, expressing frustration over the repeated delays.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Lerato Qoza of Khuluma Mphakathi, a collective supporting families affected by alleged municipal corruption in Pimville.The case stems from a Hawks investigation launched in December 2019 into allegations that municipal officials unlawfully sold RDP and privately owned homes belonging to vulnerable residents.
Investigators allege that elderly homeowners, bereaved families and households experiencing family disputes were targeted. The alleged scheme involved fabricated wills and altered title deeds used to facilitate property transfers. Ntshangase first appeared in court on 20 August 2025 alongside another municipal official, who has since died. She remains employed by the municipality and has not yet entered a plea.
Several earlier postponements involved obtaining the deceased co-accused’s death certificate, legal consultations, an unavailable court docket and requests for further particulars of the charges.For the affected families, the delays have added to their distress.
Nomahlubi Jalisa, who alleges that she also fell victim to the scheme, told GroundUp that the families would continue attending court until the matter was resolved. “The accused knows our cases very well. We will be here until the end to see justice,” she said. Jalisa added that some alleged victims had died while awaiting progress in the case, while others faced financial barriers to challenging property ownership in court.
The City of Johannesburg’s Human Settlements Department previously indicated that disciplinary consequences would follow should misconduct be established, while urging affected families to allow the legal process to continue.nThe case is expected to return to the Lenasia Magistrates’ Court on 30 November 2026.
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