Residents up in arms over misallocated RDP houses
HUNDREDS of Winnie Mandela informal settlement residents in Tembisa on the East Rand, who were swindled of their RDP houses through alleged corruption, have been left out in the cold.
At least 446 residents, who had applied for low-cost government houses in 1994 and had them approved in 2000, opened a case of fraud and corruption against Ekurhuleni Metro council in 2007.
They took the action after discovering that their houses were given to people who had not applied.
The case, which they originally opened at Rabasotho police station, was transferred to the commercial crimes unit in Germiston.
The houses were built at Tswelopele Extension 5 and 6 near Winnie Mandela settlement.
Housing officials are now shifting responsibility to the police, who in turn are not responding to Sowetan's enquiries.
Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini declined to comment, saying the matter was subject to police investigations.
Gauteng department of housing spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa referred our enquiry to the Ekurhuleni Metro council.
Attempts to get the police failed as they did not know who was dealing with the matter.
The disgruntled residents said they were confused, holding on to pieces of paper but without houses.
Victor Morakabi said they had been frustrated by the reluctance of the police to explain to them how the investigation was going.
"There must be serious corruption here. I can tell you some of the people occupying those houses are foreigners. Some have never lived in Winnie Mandela.
"If there was nothing wrong, why does everyone not want to talk to us?
"The council does not want to talk to us, the provincial and national departments of housing are not talking to us. We need to know what we must do.
"Some people we know own houses somewhere were given our houses and are renting them out," Morakabi said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements has announced that it has prosecuted more than 1000 public servants alleged to have illegally acquired RDP houses.
Department director-general Thabane Zulu said 800 of those prosecuted had been found guilty.
TAKOS
History tells us that foreighners played an important role during the struggle. Why complain when they occupy the houses? South African officials are the ones who are selling these houses to foreighners.Report Abuse
Mandzzy
@Takos, foreighners are not entitled to RDP houses just because the "played a role" during the struggle. those houses should be returned to the rightful owners and the culprits should be exposed and the law take its course. Judging by your comment you are one of many Kweres all over our faces in our own country, WE DO NOT OWE YOU ANYTHING. Exiled SA lived in camp and had limited access to their host country. Get you facts straight.Report Abuse
TAKOS
@Mandzzy. What do you understand by the word Kweres you stupid idiot?Report Abuse
YND
@TAKOS,U r out of order and you know it,Those houses were given to them illegally,it is only fair that rightful owners get their houses back..bathong!Report Abuse
Aqua
@Takos,they might have played their role but the fact that they occupied those houses illegally says it all. Mzansi has got its own problems so does other countries.Report Abuse