Do not use Freek Properties — serious safety defects, poor follow-through, and misissued certificates

In February 2024, I purchased a house through Freek Properties. The property was unfinished at sale — essentially a shell — but I was assured it would be completed in time for my mother to move in in May 2024.

About five months later, the house was handed over. It was not “completed” in any practical sense. The property, developed by Landmark Developers (Pty) Ltd, contained numerous defects, several of which were severe and posed safety and health risks. The two most serious defects were:

• The sewage line had not been laid at the front of the house nor connected to the municipal system despite a plumbing certificate (COC) being issued; and • The lower flight of the staircase had steps of varying heights and depths, creating an obvious safety hazard.

I commissioned a professional snag list from a reputable building inspector, which documented many additional defects. Although the developer repeatedly said they would repair the items, one and a half years after occupation many snags remain unresolved. The developer also declined to compensate for emergency sewage repairs and for the laying and connection of pipes to the municipal line.

Mr. Freek Botha of Freek Properties personally attended a meeting at the property with the developer and reviewed the snag list; he initially promised ongoing support. After the staircase repair, however, communication from Mr. Botha ceased. When I followed up about receiving the title deed and addressing outstanding defects, I received a message from Mr. Botha asking whether any remaining snags posed a safety concern — and nothing further. I have been left to manage all remaining issues with the developer without assistance from Freek Properties.

In addition, the agent who handled the sale caused significant and unnecessary distress to my elderly mother before and after she moved in.

Finally, important compliance documents were mishandled by the conveyancer, Miltons Matsemala: several certificates, including plumbing and electrical certificates, were issued to me with incorrect addresses, which caused further delays and added stress. There was also an unacceptably long waiting period in obtaining corrected documents.

For anyone considering Freek Properties or Landmark Developers (Pty) Ltd: expect serious defects, slow or incomplete remediation, and minimal after-sales support. If you plan to use Miltons Matsemala as conveyancers, check every certificate carefully — in my case the addresses were wrong, and correcting these errors took an unacceptably long time.