R400,000 and Counting: ‘Fake Lawyer’ Arrested in Benoni After Preying on Property Buyers

A woman accused of defrauding multiple property buyers under the guise of being a conveyancer was arrested by Benoni police on Friday. She faces three counts of fraud and is expected to appear in court soon, along with her partner, who was also taken into custody.

The suspect’s name cannot be disclosed until she appears in court, but the trail of alleged victims and lost money is already publicand growing.

The First Victim: Luka Khumalo

Last year, Luka Khumalo of Wattville in Benoni came forward with a complaint: he had paid the woman approximately R300,000 to assist in buying a house. The transaction never materialised, and despite repeated promises, the money was never refunded.

At the time, The Citizen contacted the woman, and she admitted owing Khumalo money but failed to provide a timeline for repayment.

A Second Victim: Noni Khumalo

Over the weekend, a fourth complainant emerged. Noni Khumalo (no relation) of Etwatwa, Ekurhuleni, told the same story with different numbers.

She was introduced to the woman in April 2025 by a property agent who was helping her buy a house in Daveyton. The property was valued at R170,000, with an additional R10,000 conveyancing fee.

“I deposited R7,000 into her Capitec account and R100,000 into her business account and promised to settle the balance the following month,” Noni Khumalo said.

Three days later, the homeowner backed out. A second property was offered but rejected due to its small yard. When Khumalo demanded her money back, the promises beganand then stopped.

“She kept on promising to refund me, but to no avail. She stopped taking my calls, and eventually her phone was always off.”

Bank statements seen by The Citizen confirm the payments: R7,000 to a personal Capitec account, and R100,000 to a business account provided by the woman.

Legal Practice Council: “Not in Our Records”

Kabelo Letebele, spokesperson for the Legal Practice Council, urged the public to verify credentials before paying anyone posing as a legal professional.

“We don’t have such a name in our records,” Letebele confirmed.

The warning is critical: conveyancers handle property transfers and large sums of money. They are regulated, registered, and verifiable. This woman, allegedly, was none of those things.

The Arrest

A source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed the arrest and the three fraud charges. “She was arrested with her partner,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masando did not respond to queries.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court soon, where the full details of the charges will be made public.

A Pattern of Trust Exploited

Property transactions are among the most significant financial decisions most people make. They involve trust, large sums, and complex legal processesan ideal hunting ground for fraudsters who exploit that trust.

The alleged victims in this case are not outliers. They are part of a pattern: individuals seeking the dream of homeownership, handed over to someone who presented herself as the professional who could make it happen.

The Legal Practice Council’s message is simple: check first. A name, a registration number, a call to the council. Those few minutes could save hundreds of thousands of randsand the devastation of a dream deferred.

For Luka Khumalo and Noni Khumalo, that verification came too late. For others, the arrest offers a small measure of justiceand a warning to look before you leap.

{Source: Citizen}

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