Tshwane dismisses RDP verification scam

Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro was aware of a continued misleading message making rounds on social media and various applications.

Mashigo said the scam requested residents, who had applied for RDP houses, to approach the Tshwane municipality’s Department of Human Settlements for their housing needs.

“This false message is calling on potential housing beneficiaries who had lodged applications to come forward to corroborate their housing requests as from 1 March 2021.”

MMC for the Department of Human Settlements Mpho Mehlape-Zimu said beneficiaries had to note that the Gauteng Provincial Government had to approve the housing verification application and that the metro had no jurisdiction in that department.

“Verification of housing subsidy applications and approvals are the competency of Gauteng Provincial Government, and not of the metro,” said Mehlape-Zimu.

She said procedure verification could not be done without consultation and coordination between the two spheres of government, namely the Tshwane metro and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.

“The public is cautioned not to fall for this scam, as there is no such a notice issued by the metro.”

Mehlape-Zimu urged the public to always be vigilant of fraudulent activities and not to pay anyone for processing their housing applications.

“My office would like to emphasise that this message is devoid of any truth and is a scam.”