Alex houses went to legitimate citizens - Department
The RDP houses in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg have been allocated to “bona fide” South Africans, the Gauteng housing department said
It was reacting to accusations by residents that foreigners were being allocated houses in Alex section 10 ahead of locals.
“The MEC [Humphrey Mmemezi] has invited people to bring evidence forward that proves people living in the houses are foreigners, but no one has ever come forward,” said provincial housing spokesman Motsamai Motlhaolwa.
“We understand the frustration of the waiting people but it does not justify using threats and inciting xenophobia.”
Motlhaolwa said the department could not provide a house for everyone.
Earlier, residents warned of an uprising over the foreigners living in RDP houses. “If government doesn’t want to help us then we as the community need to rise up on our own,” said resident Angeline Masango. “It’s going to be difficult. To my knowledge the people of Alex... are angry.”
'WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR RDP HOUSES'
Masango said she had registered three times for an RDP house, but was told she would need to pay R3000 or R6000 if she wanted to get one.
Another resident said she had paid someone in the council R3000, but she still did not have an RDP house.
Residents said foreigners were receiving RDP houses before the locals because they were able to pay.
Motlhaolwa said there was no money payable for an RDP house.
“If anyone can prove that they have to pay, they must come forward so we can make sure that those culprits are brought to book.
“We [government] don’t ask for money for RDP houses... someone out there is making a killing,” he said.
The housing department met police in Alexandra on Wednesday morning to address the issue.
POLICE ARE MONITORING THE SITUATION
Alexandra was the scene of several xenophobic attacks in 2008.
Gauteng police said they were keeping watch.
“There are sector officers in the area monitoring the situation and we are speaking to the community,” said Gauteng police spokesman Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini.
Dlamini said the police were concerned about the anti-foreigner pamphlets that had been handed out this week.
“Police in the area will look at cases of intimidation,” he said.
Motlhaolwa said the issuing of pamphlets and posters was a criminal offence because it was a form of threat.
“Criminals behind this must be caught and punished. Last week, officials visiting the area were intimidated so we have a court order forbidding anyone from going into the area except for officials and construction companies,” he said.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR A RDPP HOUSE
People who qualified for an RDP house had to earn between zero and R3000 a month and they had to be South African citizens, government said.
Basic electricity, water and sanitation was also provided.
The house could not be sold for the first eight years of occupation, said Motlhaolwa.
“Most people don’t understand how the market works. The house usually sells way below the cost of building a house,” he said.
It cost about R54,000 to build an RDP house, but the houses sold for about R15,000 or R20,000.
Motlhaolwa said there were more than 1,000 RDP houses in extension 10.
Half of the houses were “rental stock”, which meant people had to pay rent to the government. The other half were for poor people who had no money for rent, he said.
BORNDURINGVINIGERTIMES
Most corrupt department in the Province, ask Debra Patta from 3rd DegreeReport Abuse
2shy2call
proof ya masipa. You know very well foreigners has occupied those houses. Sodom and Gomora this people forgot the name of Alexander.Ba Brayeng.
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Knan
etv's 3rd degree needs to dig deeper into this. Some of our people are responsible for this, they sell their RDP houses to foreign people and apply for the other 1 in the other area while living in shacks themselves...Our people are also to be blamed for this
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Majooooro!!
you must go and investiagate yourself if we come forward you will then be able to trace us. people are not stupid they can't just start up this. where ever there is a smoke there is fire.Report Abuse
joyful
then how does the housing department explain foreigners living in RDP houses - from day 1(from what I have heard)????most are not renting, but received these houses from Depart. of Housing!!!!
Depart. of housing should change their policies - they should also do verification checks before and after they dish out houses! introduce stricter laws to ensure houses are not sold - as it is their officials are the ones selling most of RDP houses to foreigners ............... RDP houses receipients who are found renting or selling their houses should be jailed and their house reassigned!
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MORNACHIES
The department are lying 67.2% foreigners are owning RDP house in south africa .So it's high tym we occupy those houses as bonafide resident of south africa .
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Bdoobs
How sure is this department of housing because the question of whether or not the houses went to legitimate citizens go as far as department of home affairs which turns illegal immigrants to legitimate citizens and visa ves-a-vis.Up rise my people up rise....
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Nwanawamukalaha
If the The MEC [Humphrey Mmemezi] is defending his department, let them publish the owners and title deeds numbers of those RDP houses. The names will tell the truth.Report Abuse
Majooooro!!
here in polokwane there are RDP houses that are occupied by foreigners, sure about that.Report Abuse
SKIZOBANTWANA
Yes there are foreigner living in those houses, the reason being_some people who got such houses they sometimes prefer to rent them to desperate foreigners , while charging them rediculuos rental fees to make money''If someone doesn't have papers which entitles him or her to own that house, that person should be evicted.... Period
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