Marabastad social housing selection criteria questioned
I fail to understand how these phase one units get full, while we were the first ones to apply, yet we are not allocated houses, says a frustrated applicant.
According to Tshwane MMC for human settlements Ofentse Madzebatela, the Marabastad low-cost social housing is meant for residents who are unable to afford to buy houses.
Madzebatela spoke to Rekord after residents had questioned who actually qualified for the low-cost housing.
He said prior to approving an application, the municipality checked a few things including affordability.
“With social housing, we are able to create different paying arrangements with the tenant.
“One of the things we also check is one’s credit record, commitments and assets. A rental will be based on that,” said the MMC.
Madzebatela said the social housing consisted of rental stock, as opposed to buying stock, adding that this was a way for the metro to generate revenue.
The MMC assured the residents that complained about a lack of transparency in the allocation of social housing that their concerns would be looked into.
Applicant Emerald Masha told Rekord she applied for the housing as early as September 2021 and even attended workshops on how to apply.
“I have a serious problem regarding the Marabastad townlands flats. I applied in 2021 and at the time, they said it was low-cost flats meant for poor people who can’t afford to buy houses,” Masha said adding that that statement had changed.
“I don’t know what to do because they don’t want me to have a flat in that block yet I was approved.”
She said she was considering approaching the EFF to resolve the matter.
“We have been going back and forth with this matter. It’s about 400 of us who are struggling to get answers as to why were we not allocated our houses.
“In December of 2021, I received a communication that we must come to apply formally, and we did and I was approved, only to be told the units are full,” said Masha.
Simon Masilo said when the low-cost housing was initiated, they were told it was meant for people who couldn’t afford to buy houses.
“I suspect there is fraud on this project because I fail to understand how these units get full, while we were first to apply yet we are not allocated houses.
“Every time we go to the municipality to seek clarity. we are sent from pillar to post with no clear answer,” said Masilo.
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