Gauteng Human Settlements warns residents against housing allocation scams and false claims
Gauteng Human Settlements has warned residents about housing scams and false claims from groups taking credit for RDP allocations, stressing that homes are allocated through an official, regulated process.
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has warned residents against groups and individuals claiming they can influence or secure government housing allocations through protests, lobbying or political pressure.
The department said houses are not allocated based on pressure, protests or political connections, but through an established process governed by its Housing Allocations Policy and overseen by a Joint Allocation Committee.
Applicants must first register on the National Housing Needs Register, after which their eligibility is verified before approved beneficiaries are considered for allocation.
The allocation system follows a set priority order, including beneficiaries on the 1996 -1999 waiting list, approved applicants with no previous allocation, elderly households, people with disabilities and military veterans.
The department said the recent increase in housing handovers reflects its efforts to allocate completed units quickly and prevent them from being invaded or hijacked.
This financial year to date, 1 448 houses have been allocated against a target of 1 000, while 1 333 houses were completed in the first quarter and 815 title deeds were issued.
Residents have also been warned about housing scams.
No official, activist, agent or organisation can guarantee a house, fast-track an application or register someone for a fee.
Government-subsidised housing is free to qualifying beneficiaries, and residents should not hand over money, ID documents or banking details to people making such promises.
The department urged residents to verify housing information through official Gauteng Human Settlements or municipal offices and report anyone demanding payment or claiming to control housing allocations.
