Johannesburg - Prospective property buyers may have to undergo a thorough vetting process before estate agents will consider an appointment for viewing.
This comes after Monday’s brutal killing of a RE/MAX real estate agent, Hanle Lategan, while she was out on an appointment for a viewing.
Potential clients may be expected to disclose the type of car they will be driving, the car's registration number, who will be in their group, and a letter of pre-approval from the lending bank, giving an assurance that they are genuine buyers.
This was the collective sentiment expressed by owners of property agencies and estate agents themselves in a desperate attempt to safeguard themselves from criminals masquerading as potential buyers.
Lategan’s colleagues, friends and relatives paid tribute to her at the True Gospel Ministry in Ruimsig on Thursday night. Hymns echoed through the church as attendees, some visibly shaken, held hands to form a circle.
Lategan was reported missing on Monday at Krugersdorp police station. On Tuesday pupils on their way to school discovered her body dumped next to a wetland in Randfontein.
Her murder followed that of two insurance brokers in Krugersdorp North. Anthony Scholefield died on May 10 and Kevin McAlpine on May 26, both after apparently going out to meet clients.
Claire Brereton-Martin, an agent with Andrews Real Estate, said she now asked family members to accompany her when going on appointments. She said that since Monday she had received phone calls from a client who wanted to view a property after hours but every time she arrived for the appointment the person failed to arrive.
“I am starting to think that it might be the same person involved in all of the murders. When I call the number back it just goes off. I think he sees that I have company. The sad thing is most people want to view after hours as they are at work during the day. All agents should start doing proper security checks before agreeing to viewing appointments. Things like a vehicle’s registration and ID copies of people coming to view are important.”
Bernard Blunden, the owner of Property Active, agreed. “From now on, when female agents are going out for an appointment, some of our male agents will have to accompany them,” he said.
Blunden is considering hiring private security for his employees.
“If we agree on a good fee with security companies this will be good for our employees.
“We also need to do extra vetting for prospective buyers: they must provide ID copies, disclose the type of car they will be travelling in and who they will be with and, most importantly, a pre-approval to show they are genuine clients.”
He wants the Estate Agency Board to make this a standard requirement.
Blunden also carries a gun now. “This is what it has come to. We can’t risk our lives any more.”
Giving the sermon, Pastor Tertius le Hanie said the church should lead in such times.
“What is happening requires the church to stand in the gap. This is not normal at all. People don’t value life any more and a church has the responsibility to safeguard our communities,” he said.
Randfontein police spokeswoman Captain Appel Ernst said the police were confident that the killers would be arrested.
“Progress is being made in the investigation of all the cases in the Krugersdorp area. We are positive that we will succeed in bringing the suspects in these cases to book. A team of investigators has been identified and put together,” she said.
The Star