A former City of Cape Town employee was found guilty on Thursday of talking fire victims who had lost their homes into giving her money for a place on the housing waiting list.
Nomkitha Matinisi, 48, who had initially pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to five years in jail and convicted on eight counts of corruption at the Commercial Crimes Court.
The mother of two from Langa worked at the city’s Department of Housing office for three years during which time she received R16 500 from eight Langa residents.
Magistrate Amrith Chabillal said that Matinisi had fabricated a so-called “longer and shorter process” in terms of the waiting list, where the “shorter process” meant residents could pay her money to jump the queue.
“It was nothing but a figment of Matinisi’s imagination. (Matinisi) would offer the ‘shorter process’, helping those who were not on the list. Out of desperation, people would agree and hand over the money.
“There was no such thing as a long and short process,” he said.
In 2005, a fire claimed the homes of more than 500 Langa residents. The city had old hostels renovated for fire victims to rent. However, a waiting list had to be drawn up.
As a member of the community and employee at the Housing Department, Matinisi was given the duty of liaising between the city and residents to ensure that the fire victims received new homes.
For the past seven years, the majority of these victims have been living in shacks and old run-down buildings while some had received “assistance” from Matinisi.
About 30 people crammed into the public gallery at the court to hear her fate.
After sentencing, the crowd – mostly pensioners – ululated and danced in a circle shouting “down Nomkhitha, down!”
An elderly woman, Nophela Cuba, said she had been on the waiting list since 2007 and had still not been given a house.
“Because of (Matinisi), I live in an old shack which I am upset about. It is so old, there are rats in my house.
“People who are not on the list are receiving houses illegally before us.
“That (Matinisi) was found guilty made me extremely happy,” she said flinging her hands in the air.
The court heard testimonies of eight witnesses since the start of the trial on Monday.
According to Chabillal, who read the testimonies out in court yesterday, witnesses said they visited the Housing Department’s offices in Langa in an attempt to find out their position on the housing waiting lists.
“On count six, the witness testified that he visited the Housing Department’s offices. He was helped by the accused (Matinisi) and she asked him whether he was prepared to receive housing via the long or short process. The witness agreed to take the short process.
“The witness then testified that (Matinisi) told him to stand aside while she helped other people. She then called him to her office where she’d offered to help via the short process,” Chabillal said.
Chabillal went on to say the witness testified that Matinisi asked for R4 000 in exchange for “her assistance”.
“Out of desperation, (the witness) agreed.
“The following day, he handed over the money and received keys to a unit and an envelope with an address on the front,” he said.
Matinisi was previously convicted for theft in 1988 which she denied. - Cape Times
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