eThekwini distances itself from RDP housing fraud accused
eThekwini has denied employing the woman accused of fraudulently securing a RDP house meant for 2022 flood victims.
THE eThekwini Municipality has come out to address and deny allegations that one of their employees is involved in the alleged fraudulent sale of RDP houses flagged by the KZN Department of Human Settlements.
The scandal came to light following the appearance of the alleged kingpin at the Durban Magistrate’s Court last week. According to a statement issued by the City, the accused is “employed by a private entity”, not by eThekwini.
The allegation against the accused is that she declared herself unemployed with the intention of benefiting from a housing project in Illovu which has been designated for families affected by the 2022 floods.
“While the names of those accused of collaborating with the suspect have not been released, eThekwini would like to clarify that the City has not been involved in subsidy registration or approvals of potential beneficiaries linked to the Illovu Project. All approvals are made by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements,” said eThekwini.
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“The approval and non-approval of beneficiaries is managed through the Housing Subsidy System, which is managed by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements and not eThekwini Municipality.”
Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said the alleged fraud was uncovered by an elite unit within Human Settlements. He said the alleged kingpin was arrested for clandestinely accessing the Emergency Housing Response Fund, earmarked for the building of houses for the needy communities.
“There are mayors, councillors, and officials who have bypassed the department and clandestinely rushed to hand over houses and title deeds to unqualified individuals,” said Sibiya.
“Consequently, such RDP houses have been handed over to undocumented foreign nationals, friends, and relatives.”
He added, “In eThekwini, our no-nonsense elite unit working with SAPS uncovered a house allocated to a Mozambican national and has ensured the arrest of three other undocumented Mozambican nationals.”
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