A 58-year-old man accused of running a large-scale property scam has once again been denied bail by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
Candid Chilwane allegedly posed as a professional conveyancer, working with fake estate agents to deceive property buyers. Between August 2023 and October 2024, the group advertised properties and collected money from unsuspecting victims, with all payments reportedly going into Chilwane’s personal account. What started with eight charges has now grown to 20, with two additional fraud cases filed in Pretoria for similar acts. In those cases, he is accused of accepting payments for property transfers that were never completed.
Authorities painted a disturbing picture during the court hearing. Victims, some of whom are reportedly armed and furious, have allegedly threatened Chilwane’s life. One woman even fled to another province after claiming she had been intimidated by individuals sent by him.
Police also testified that Chilwane tried to retrieve files from his office before his arrest—raising concerns that he might hide or destroy evidence. They also believe he poses a threat to witnesses and could attempt further intimidation if released.
Chilwane argued for his release on medical grounds, citing kidney issues and poor prison healthcare. However, the court found no solid proof that his condition required hospitalization or that medical care was being denied.
In the end, the judge ruled that Chilwane failed to prove his release would be in the interest of justice, leaving him to remain behind bars as investigations continue.