By Akani Nkuna
Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has vowed to crack down on the illegal allocation of RDP houses in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, targeting housing scams and corruption.
The announcement came as she handed over Breaking New Ground houses to vulnerable groups during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, running from November 25 to December 10, 2024.
“We acknowledge the complaints of wrongful allocation of houses in Ekurhuleni, which is not an uncommon thing in any of the metros across the country. So, I am going to appeal to the MEC and Mayor of Ekurhuleni to work together,” Kubayi told the community of Heldewyk who gathered to witness the handing over of the houses.
“We want to do an investigation across Ekurhuleni into the allegations and we are going to start here.”
Kubayi, joined by Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Tasneem Motara and Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, announced she is awaiting confirmation from her department’s Director General on the appointment of a service provider to conduct a forensic audit into housing allocations in Ekurhuleni.
The move follows complaints raised during the Presidential Imbizo about alleged irregularities in the municipality’s processes for identifying vulnerable housing beneficiaries.
“90 percent of the people said their names were recorded as beneficiaries, but other people were living in those houses. The forensic audit was conceived from there to ensure the houses go to the rightful owners,” Kubayi said.
She promised decisive action against those involved in fraudulent activities that deprive people of housing.
“I can assure the residents of Ekurhuleni, without fear or favor, that anyone implicated in this scam will be arrested,” she said.
Kubayi also clarified that municipalities do not allocate government houses to undocumented foreign nationals and pledged to root out corruption.
“We do not give illegal foreign nationals houses. This is why we are cleaning up corrupt individuals and ensuring those selling RDP houses are also arrested,” she added.
One beneficiary, 73-year-old Mirian Mokoena, expressed relief after receiving a house following over 20 years on the waiting list.
“I suffered for so long after my husband died, enduring abusive relationships just to have a roof over my head. Living like an animal in traumatic conditions, this house will finally bring me peace,” she said.
Another recipient, 18-year-old Chantel Dyantyi, who heads a household of three, shared her joy at receiving a home after spending much of her childhood in a shelter in Rondebult.
“I am so happy that, as a child-headed family, we will have a normal Christmas like most families – the first of its kind,” Dyantyi said.
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