Senior Presidency official sued over house sale collapse
The head of investment and infrastructure in the Presidency, Kgosientso ‘Sputla’ Ramokgopa, and his wife Georgia are being sued for at least R800 000 by tenants who claim the couple reneged on an agreement to sell them their luxury house.
A Sunday Times Daily report says Nkosinathi Dunstan Lowan and his wife Hazel said their rent-to-buy agreement fell apart when the Ramokgopas informed them in a letter, two years after they moved in, that the deal was off and their rent was going up from R15 000 to R25 000.
The Lowans claim the former Tshwane mayor and his wife had agreed to sell them their R3m property in the upmarket Heuwelsig Estate in Centurion.
Lowan said they paid R200 000 in transfer fees to the conveyancing attorney.
‘Despite everything being approved, Ramokgopa could not provide me with an occupation certificate,’ said Lowan.
The documents required for the deal to be concluded included: a clearance certificate issued by a professional engineer registered with the Engineering Council of SA for the rational design, inspection of building work and stability of the structural system; National Home Builders Registration Council enrolment documentation; and an occupancy certificate from the local municipality.
Ramokgopa did not provide the documentation, so Lowan sourced it.
But according to court documents, ‘the defendants refused to co-operate and refused to sign the necessary documents’.
The Sunday Times Daily says as the matter dragged on, the Lowans and Ramokgopas entered into a rent-to-buy agreement which, according to Lowan, was expected to run for three months.
It ended up going on for 40 months, costing R600 000 in rent payments.
On 7 November 2019, Ramokgopa, through his conveyancers, sent a letter to Lowan informing him of his decision to terminate the sale agreement, as well as the increase in the rent.
Now the Lowans are suing the Ramokgopas for R800 000 plus interest for transfer fees paid (R200 000) and the rent paid over a 40-month period (R600 000).
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
