A Port Alfred rental agent who conned numerous people out of thousands of rands over a period of nine months pleaded guilty to a charge of theft in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
Initially charged with fraud, Sandra Ann Cronje, 53, of Port Alfred, pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of theft before her trial could start.
It is alleged that between September 2014 and May 2015 Cronje siphoned off nearly R500,000 meant to be paid either to her employer at the time, Happy Sunshine Homes trading as Lew Geffen Sothebys International Realty, or property lessors. According to the indictment, Cronje caused 24 people to make rental payments or administration fees to her personal bank accounts rather than her employer’s.
A total of R494,276.10 had been paid into Cronje’s bank accounts.
After being caught out, Cronje allegedly paid back R187,649.82 of the total amount and misappropriated R306,617.28 for her personal use.
Cronje’s legal counsel, attorney Hennie Bence, told the court that after he had consulted his client, she indicated that she wanted to plead guilty to the charge of theft.
In her plea read out by Bence, Cronje admitted to receiving the money that was meant to be paid into the trust account of her employer.
“Instead of handing over the amounts I kept these monies and used them illegally,” Cronje said.
After her plea was read into the record, magistrate Hannes Claasen found Cronje guilty on a charge of theft.
State prosecutor Wilhelm de Villiers told the court he was still not in the possession of profiles and other records of Cronje, even though Bence had confirmed that she did not have any previous charges against her.
“[Bence] claimed there is no record [for Cronje]. Once I have the [records] if I find any mischief I will place this on record,” De Villiers said.
Bence asked for the matter to be postponed for a correctional services report to be compiled before sentencing proceedings can commence.
Claasen postponed the matter to February 14.