House sale turns into nightmare for granny

Olive Potgieter sold her home so that she would have money for her mentally handicapped daughter, but seven months on she is penniless and her child's place in an institution is in jeopardy.

The man who took possession of 86-year-old Potgieter's Sandton townhouse is Mark Abramowitz, who 16 years ago was cleared of hiring a hitmen to kill his business partner.

Abramowitz has for seven months promised Potgieter he would pay her the R1,5 million agreed to in the sale.

Initially he told Potgieter that the money would come from the proceeds of shares sold in a coffee shop.

Later he claimed the money was coming from a trust in Liechtenstein.

Soon she didn't believe him at all. "We have heard that 30 times but still no money," said a confidential source, who didn't want to be named, who is involved in the case.

When Abramowitz was approached by The Star on Tuesday. He said the full amount would be paid in 24 hours, or by Friday at the latest. "The matter has been resolved."

He added that as a gesture of goodwill he would give Potgieter an extra R50 000. By the time of going to print on Thursday night, the money remained outstanding.

Abramowitz is currently doing alterations to the house, and Potgieter feels that time is running out.

Potgieter's trouble began on August 20 last year when Abramowitz signed the deed of sale for the property. He wanted to move in on September 1. "I was supposed to get the R1,5 million on August 31," she said.

He was able to convince Potgieter, her lawyer and the estate agent that he had money coming in from the sale of shares in a coffee shop. As the months went by, Potgieter eventually was able to cut the electricity to the house.

Up to that point, she says, she had to pay his electricity bills, which she said had accumulated to R17 000.

But the man she is fighting also has a controversial past, which includes his alleged involvement in a murder that happened in 1994.

In October of that year, Dennis Marock, Abramowitz's business partner, was found bludgeoned to death in the boot of his car. The car was found in an open field in District Six, Cape Town. Found with the body was a pick axe that police believed was used to kill Marock.

In the Cape Supreme Court, Michael Felthun, one of the murder accused, said both Abramowitz and Marock had taken life insurance policies, of R1m each, out on each other. He claimed Abramowitz had hired him to kill Marock.

Abramowitz, who turned State witness, denied the allegations. Felthun and James Agnew were later convicted of murdering Marock.

On Wednesday, Potgieter's legal team were in the Johannesburg High Court, attempting to secure an eviction order. During an earlier court date, Abramowitz had stated that he would oppose the eviction.

He was supposed to file his opposing affidavit stating, why he should not be evicted, two weeks ago.

According to Potgieter's lawyer, he hadn't. On Wednesday, Abramowitz failed to appear in court.

A further court date has been set for March 18, when Potgieter hopes a judge will grant her an eviction order against Abramowitz.

In the meantime she worries for the future of her daughter Denise, who is mentally handicapped and has been institutionalised.

"I went to the centre and told them I couldn't pay anymore, and Denise has been there for over 40 years. They have now placed her on a list for private funding," Potgieter said.

The Star

Posted at 11:19AM Feb 22, 2010 by Editor in Residential  |  Comments[4]