Ekurhuleni warns residents of housing handover scam targeting applicants

The City of Ekurhuleni has cautioned residents about a scam targeting individuals who applied for government-subsidised housing from 1996 to date.

According to the city, scammers are contacting applicants and falsely claiming that their houses are ready for handover. Victims are then asked to attend a meeting, bring along housing documents, and pay money to “speed up” the process.

The fraudsters have been spreading misinformation through Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok, luring unsuspecting residents into attending fake housing handover events.

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“The City of Ekurhuleni will never ask residents to pay money to receive their houses. Applicants must also never hand over documents unless official announcements are made on the city’s verified communication platforms,” the municipality said in a statement.

These include the City’s official platforms:
• X (formerly Twitter): @cityofekurhuleni
• Website: www.ekurhuleni.gov.za
• Facebook: City of Ekurhuleni

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Residents are advised not to attend the following events, which scammers are falsely promoting as housing handovers:

• August 28 at Kwa-Thema Community Hall, 11:00
• September 9 at Olifantsfontein Hall, Tembisa 2, 11:30
• September 17 at Tembisa 1, 10:30
• September 30 at Palm Ridge Community Hall, 11:00

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The City of Ekurhuleni and the Department of Human Settlements confirmed they have no knowledge of these events.

The municipality urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to their nearest Customer Care Centre, Human Settlements Department, or law enforcement authorities.