Sinokubonga Nkala
Danisa Masuku
A Bulawayo man facing nine counts of fraud after selling people residential stands that did not belong to him pleaded guilty to eight of them after the State presented overwhelming evidence of his guilt.
Elliot Mharadze appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Joseph Mabeza facing nine counts of fraud.
He was represented by lawyer Tinashe Runganga.
The State, represented by Siphiwe Mhlanga, presented overwhelming evidence that he committed the offence.
Seeing no way out, Mharadze pleaded guilty to eight charges. The magistrate acquitted him of one count.
Mharadze was remanded in custody to 16 December 2024 for sentencing.
The court heard that on 24 August 2018, Mharadze misrepresented to Tackler Gumbo that stand number 1235 in Pelandaba West suburb, Bulawayo, belonged to him and was for sale, despite knowing that the property belonged to someone else.
On 8 October 2018, he misrepresented that stand number 18002 in Pelandaba West suburb belonged to him, despite not owning it.
He sold the stand under this false pretence.
On 27 November 2018, the court further heard that he misrepresented to Tafara Dube that stand number 83 in Pelandaba West belonged to him and sold it to Tafara.
On an unknown date in 2018, he again lied to Butholezwe Dube that stand number 1209 in Pelandaba West belonged to him and sold it to him.
Again, on an unknown date in 2018, Mharadze sold stand number 1092 in Pelandaba West to Lingiwe Nkiwane, knowing that it did not belong to him.
The court further heard that sometime in 2019, Mharadze was approached by Mgcini Ndlovu, who was looking for a residential stand. Mharadze again sold him another one he did not own.
In June 2019, Mharadze defrauded Ruth Lunga by selling her another residential stand that did not belong to him.
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