Illegal occupants of RDP houses in Gauteng have to brace themselves as the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS) enforces eviction. The department obtained a court order authorising the removal of unlawful occupants from government-funded housing units in the province.

Speaking to Ster North, spokesperson Tahir Semar confirmed that evictions are already underway, adding that the department cannot provide details, as this may disrupt ongoing operations.

“Evictions have already commenced, supported by the Sheriff of the Court, the South African Police Service and Public Order Policing. Each recovered unit will be allocated to an approved beneficiary, many of whom have been waiting years for housing assistance. The full extent of the recovery efforts is not yet known.”

Semar said that evictions are being handled within the legal framework in the entire province, including Sedibeng District.

Talking about the verification of eligibility of a beneficiary, Semar states that before a recovered house is handed over, beneficiaries are screened against the Deeds Registry to confirm they own no property, the national subsidy database to confirm no prior government housing benefit, the national population registers to check marital status and dependants, as well as the income threshold.

All allocations are processed through the Housing Subsidy System (HSS). Before handover, only approved beneficiaries proceed to pre-allocation and handover. Furthermore, the department says it has noted the involvement of organised groups in facilitating illegal occupation and the illegal sale of state houses.

“These matters are handed to law enforcement. Individuals or syndicates who organise or facilitate illegal occupations will face the full consequences of the law.”

To prevent the houses from being illegally occupied again, developers have deployed private security to secure recovered developments.
“The department coordinates with SAPS and municipalities on ongoing monitoring, and the allocation of verified beneficiaries is being prioritised so that recovered units are lawfully occupied as quickly as possible.”

The department says it allocates housing according to a transparent priority framework: the 1996–1999 waiting list, the elderly, people with disabilities, military veterans and approved beneficiaries with no prior allocation.

The Department of Human Settlements explains that it is expanding supply through Mega Projects, the Rapid Land Release Programme, informal settlement upgrading, and hostel redevelopment.

“The department treats any allegation of official involvement in fraudulent allocation with the utmost seriousness. Where evidence emerges, matters are investigated and referred for disciplinary and criminal action. Housing allocation is not first-come; it follows a transparent, criteria-based priority system that protects the most vulnerable. State-subsidised houses are reserved for verified, qualifying beneficiaries, and residents are urged to report the illegal occupation or sale of RDP houses so that swift action can be taken.”