The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has laid charges against former eThekwini municipality councillors and officials who allegedly sold RDP houses illegally, the party said on Thursday.
The charges were laid on Monday with the Durban central police station, said Democratic Alliance eThekwini chief whip Sharon Chetty.
“This was not a simple process as the SA Police Service prevented me from opening any charges and they provided frivolous reasons, such as no jurisdiction, scene of crime, and that because I am not the complainant in the allegations, I should not be opening the charges,” Chetty said.
The unlawful sale of RDP housing emerged in a forensic report into corruption in the eThekwini metro municipality compiled by Manase and Associates.
Eleven people — four councillors, three former councillors, two officials, and two ward committee members — were implicated in illegally selling RDP houses.
Chetty said the party laid charges against seven individuals, excluding the four current sitting councillors, to ensure accountability as no action had been taken against them.
DA eThekwini caucus leader Zwakele Mncwango said the party had asked the municipality’s speaker Logie Naidoo to start ethics violation proceedings against the four councillors.
“The DA calls for the firing of all eThekwini councillors and officials involved in the widespread practice of selling RDP houses illegally,” Mncwango said.
RDP houses were sold for between R1500 and R20,000 each.
“Some cases show how ANC councillors exploit poor residents, with Manase investigators documenting one councillor as soliciting a resident to have sex with him for a house.
“We want action against councillors who are charging people money for RDP houses that should be free,” he said.