EMM explains housing procedures

Due to the ongoing confusion and misunderstanding of housing allocations in Tembisa, The Tembisan approached the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) to clarify how housing registrations and allocations work:

Tembisan: What is a C-Form?

EMM: During 1996 when people applied to be registered on the housing waiting list, registration forms were completed with all the client’s details. After that a ‘C-Form’ was issued as proof that you have registered your name on the waiting list.

Tembisan: What is a stand number?

EMM: When an approved beneficiary is allocated a house the stand number will appear on both the Happy Letter and the Service Agreement signed by the beneficiary who is allocated a house in that particular project.

Tembisan: When do you receive a stand number?

EMM: A stand number is provided when you are allocated a house.

Tembisan: How do you apply for a RDP house?

EMM: Currently you go to the regional office of Human Settlement in the Navada Building at 68 Voortrekker Street in Alberton with the following documentation:

• Green barcoded identity documents.
• Proof that gross monthly income is less than R3500.

Married or single applicants with dependants also need:

• Certified copy of marriage certificate.
• Birth certificates of dependants.
• Proof of income
• If single and affidavit confirming that you are a single parent.

You must be older than 18 years, must not have benefited from government funding before and you must be a first time home owner.

Tembisan: What is a HSS form?

EMM: This is a print out from the Housing Subsidy System which will indicate your subsidy application status on the system.

Tembisan: Does an HSS form guarantee an applicant a house?

EMM: It all depends on the status of your application. If your application is approved for a full subsidy, yes subject to the availability of a project and if you are not approved for a full subsidy, no. RDP houses are allocated only to beneficiaries who qualify for a fully subsidised house.

Tembisan: What are the stages of getting an RDP house? What is involved?

EMM: There must be a project which has been identified.

Obtain beneficiary allocation approval from Council.

Follow subsidy application process.

Obtain approved list from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlement.

Inform beneficiaries of the allocation date.

Render relocation assistance as and when required.

Allocate beneficiaries to completed houses.

Hand over keys to the beneficiary.

Sign Happy Letter and Service Agreement.

Tembisan: What happens when a person who applied for an RDP house dies while on the waiting list? Are they removed from the waiting list? What happens to their dependants?

EMM: A waiting list is something that is not heritable, if the registered person passed on automatically it falls off unless the deceased’s subsidy was already approved in a particular project then his/her children will benefit.

Tembisan: If the deceased was still on the waiting list, what can their children do?

EMM: A waiting list is a demand database used as a planning tool used by the government to ascertain the number of people in need of government assistance. The children may apply for their own houses as long as they are above the age of 18 years.

Tembisan: If an RDP beneficiary dies after they were allocated a house and leave behind children and grandchildren staying in the house and later one wants to sell the house or deny others access to electricity or water?

EMM: In the event of an estate the matter is referred to the Magistrate Court for a decision as to who will be the representative of the estate if the value of the property is less than R150 000.00, but if the value is more the matter is referred to the Master of the High Court for a decision.

Tembisan: What are the steps needed to be taken by the other children who are also beneficiaries?

EMM: They should report the matter to social workers who will arrange for a joint interview for the family and advise them accordingly.