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NO MONEY, NO KEYS: July and Sarah Thwala in the RDP house they allegedly bought from the Phumelela local municipality for R800. PHOTO: NTWAAGAE SELEKA

 Elderly use grants to buy RDPs 

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Residents of Thembelihle Extension 4 in Vrede said municipal officials told them if they wanted houses they should pay R1,200.

They showed Sowetan their receipts.

Though the money was paid in at the municipal offices in Vrede, receipts do not indicate what they were paying for.

The houses in question are 250 newly built RDPs in the area.

Paulos Nhlapo is among those who could not afford to raise the money.

"I was told I should pay in full before my new house would be handed over to me," he said. "I have negotiated with them that I will pay in instalments. I am desperate to own a house."

Lindiwe Tshabalala said she borrowed money to buy her house in October last year and was given the keys in January this year.

"I didn't want to miss such an opportunity. Officials told us their policy was 'no money, no keys'," said Tshabalala.

Pensioner Roseline Sibeko saved two months of her pension payouts in order to purchase the house.

"I had no option but to starve myself and my grandchildren for two months in order for us to have a house. We were told if we didn't pay our house would be given to those who had money," she said.

In Ezenzeleni in Warden, about 300km away, residents also said they were told to buy RDP houses if they wanted to own them.

Ezenzeleni is also part of the Phumelela local municipality.

Residents said municipal officials told them in 2010 that if they did not raise R800, houses meant for them would be sold to people with money.

Sowetan has also seen their receipts. They contain the municipality's name, the amount paid and the words "sell of site (sic)".

The residents say they were initially told they were buying vacant stands, but it later transpired they were buying RDP houses.

They claimed the money was collected by municipal officials. They were also promised electricity - but this has not happened.

Wheelchair-bound July Thwala, 63, bought his house on December 12 2010 for R800.

"I wanted to own a house, so I used my disability grant to pay for it. Officials from the municipality are the ones who gave me the keys after I had paid. I expected that by now my house would be electrified as promised," Thwala said.

Ralekata Molefe, 83, also paid for her house on December 12 2010 - also using her pension grant.

"When these houses were built we were told they were for pensioners. But after they were completed we were ordered to pay before occupying them," Molefe said.

Provincial department of cooperative governance, traditional affairs and human settlements spokesman Ntai Mokhitli said it was illegal to sell RDPs and the department would investigate the allegations.

"There is no justification whatsoever for selling government-built low-cost houses intended for the poor. It is unknown who gave the municipality the authority to sell the houses," Mokhitli said.

- ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Sun May 26 06:05:39 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 21, 2012

MommaC

SA, alive with possibilities.

Happens all over the place. That is how all the RDP houses down by Rooihuiskraal managed to get Zim owners
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Sep 21, 2012

jerico

that is not new.
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Sep 21, 2012

babyfats

yes dey definitely doing dat
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Sep 21, 2012

Bohlale1

I feel like crying.. What is happening to South Africa... Why are our leaders, people who suppossed to lead us to a right direction, people we voted for, doing this to us..eish!!! Zuma I really hate you man!! I remember supporting you at your rape case.. I was chanting your name hoping that South Africa will change for the better,, I remember you even said,, "my people I will die for you" Is this how you repay us?? I blame no other but you ZUMA!!!! Nxa.
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Sep 21, 2012

MissU

Hooooooooooooooooo! abanye abantu abaswabi, how do you sleep at night knowing that you make extra cash by robbing pensioner and a disabled ppl. Sies
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Sep 21, 2012

Nenzani

In the eyes of the Mayor,
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Sep 21, 2012

cornelius

The part responsible for this municipality must be racis.t
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Sep 21, 2012

Gcaleka

This is crazy, but the problem is that the story is on Sowetanlive and I believe they are crazier. Warden is not 300km from Vrede, its roughly 65km. They have a 2011 Mercedes Benz C200K with 10900km going for R799 900 advert with the article.
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Sep 21, 2012

KgoshiKgolo

May the Living God and Creator of all, bring a quick end to the existence of ANC and its rule in South Africa, may He Use his powerful Spirit of Fire to bring death of ANC and its spirit of corruption. May He also prevent The DA from ruling South Africa one day and destroy the satanic spirit of Nazism (superior race) that governs the DA. May he allow true democracy to the people to really elect their own leadres that they prefer. May all these happen for the love of the people of South Africa, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.
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Sep 21, 2012

clvee

It's too little, people must pay, where in the world have you seen people getting houses for free? It's only here in SA and it promotes lazyness
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