This comes after the accused, Elmarie Kirstein, briefly appeared in the Klerskdorp Magistrate's Court on July 18 – the day of her arrest – facing 170 charges of fraud. Kirstein was released on R2000 bail and the matter was postponed to September 11, pending further investigations. 

North West police spokesperson, Amogelang Mabihi, says the accused was responsible for all the renting aspects of properties including collecting money from tenants and payments of services rendered at the local rental property company where she was an employee between 2012 and 2015. 

According to Mabihi, the tenants were supposed to pay their rental money into the business account of the company and the suspect would then pay property owners. 

Instead of this Kirstein allegedly negotiated with them to pay directly to her in cash, keeping the majority of the money for herself, paying only a portion to the owners telling them their properties were vacant. 

It is further alleged she manipulated the system by establishing a company that was supposedly rendering services with her own bank account details and the money was paid to her.

OFM News/Thamsanqa Ka’Mkuyane