More than 200 people gathered outside the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements offices in the Krugersdorp CBD on June 9 to protest delays in the allocation of RDP houses and what they described as a lack of communication regarding housing applications.

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Many protesters said they have spent years, and in some cases decades, on the housing waiting list without receiving clarity on the status of their applications.

One of the protesters, David Maleka, said he applied for a house in 1996 but claims the property allocated to him was subsequently given to several other beneficiaries despite him meeting the qualifying criteria.

I still do not know why my allocation has been delayed,” he said.

The protest follows the recent handover of housing units at the Dr Sefularo development, which has fuelled frustration among some residents who believe long-standing applicants are being overlooked.

According to Mogale City’s senior communications practitioner, Tendani Shavani, 70 beneficiaries from Ward 32 (Hekpoort and Magaliesburg) recently received two-bedroom houses fitted with solar geysers, plumbing and other essential services.

The municipality has confirmed that a second phase of the project will deliver a further 120 two-bedroom housing units. However, many of the protesters, most of whom are from Kagiso, say they remain uncertain about where they stand on the housing waiting list and when they can expect to benefit from government housing programmes.

The Department of Human Settlements has previously indicated that principles relating to gender, youth and persons with disabilities are considered during the allocation process to ensure vulnerable and previously disadvantaged groups benefit from housing programmes.

The protest began at the Town Hall in the CBD before protesters marched to the department’s offices.

Tensions briefly flared when some protesters attempted to enter the building before security personnel locked the doors.

March organiser Mawethu Mawethu later called for calm, urging protesters to remain peaceful despite their frustrations.

“We will continue to engage with the municipality and the department. We have received no clarity, and there has been very little communication regarding the matter.

Some people have been on the waiting list for decades, and their patience has run out,” said Mawethu.

The protesters handed over a memorandum outlining their grievances and demands.

The Krugersdorp News has approached the municipality for comment on the memorandum. No response had been received at the time of going to print. The municipality’s response will be published once received.