Thuli Phongolo’s real estate business sparks debate over Soweto properties
Thuli Phongolo’s recent ventures into real estate have attracted scrutiny after images of properties managed by her firm, Phongolo Properties, surfaced online.
The actress and DJ began her investment in township properties this year and now faces allegations of reselling government-issued RDP houses.
Co-managing the property firm with her sister Marcia, Phongolo has been promoting various homes in Soweto, including a 12-bedroom house in Mapetla listed for R1.5 million and an RDP property in Braamfischerville for R370,000.
The listings were posted on the company’s social media page, prompting mixed reactions from users.
While some praised her effort to alleviate housing shortages, many voiced concerns regarding the state and pricing of the homes.
“These properties look abandoned,” one commenter noted, while another added, “Wanting cash only for properties that look abandoned and occupied by pharas makes so much sense.”
Another critic remarked: “That house that is going for 1.5m is right opposite hostela, so udakiwe!! There’s also an Engen and usave 2 mins away, but they have been trying to sell that property for years now cause of the crime.”
This is not Phongolo’s first entry into the property market; earlier this year, she bought an upscale home and put her mansion up for sale with an asking price of R7.3 million.
