NORTH West MEC for human settlement and public safety and liaison, Desbo Mohono, says her department is working with municipalities to evict illegal occupants of completed housing units across the province.

She said her department had challenges in dealing with illegal occupation. She said municipalities were better placed to handle such challenges.

Though the eviction process was lengthy, Mohono said her department was working tirelessly to reach a resolution and provide housing to its rightful beneficiaries.

"The department is in the process of undertaking verification on occupancy and physical audits in partnership with municipalities and pertinent stakeholders to assist the process to be concluded," she said.

Mohono said future allocations would be done on the basis of the housing needs register as the department has already appointed a service provider to develop a demand database for the province.

"Beneficiary administration is key to managing and averting any possible illegal occupation," she said.

"As part of preventing illegal occupation which is a concern in the province, we are going to ensure that immediate occupation is done when the houses are completed."