KAYLYNN PALM
Former Mitchell’s Plain ward councillor Irma Jackson and her two co-accused appeared in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court for the fourth time on charges of fraud last week after they were implicated in a housing scam.
Representation for the accused asked for a postponement for further consultation with the senior prosecutor, on Friday May 6.
According to the charge sheet, the three accused had told the complainants that they would be able to secure properties for them at a fee of R5 000 each, despite them not being authorised to do so.
More than 30 families, living in backyards or single rooms claimed to have paid up to R5 000 each to have houses allocated to them (“Housing hustlers in court,” Plainsman, December 23 2015; “Fraud case postponed again,” Plainsman, April 13).
Some of them were unemployed and borrowed the money, which they are now battling to pay off.
Former DA councillor for Ward 43, Ms Jackson, 49; Paul van der Schyff, 52, from Muizenberg; and Numan Roman, 50, first appeared in Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Friday December 18 on charges of fraud and Magistrate Aleem Kader granted them bail of R1 000 each. Mr Roman has chosen to represent himself in court.
