Doornkop residents get clarity on RDP housing applications

The City of Johannesburg MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, conducted a public engagement session with residents in Doornkop Community Hall, Block Four, on February 6.

The session forms part of the department’s efforts to ensure that Johannesburg residents are well informed and equipped with accurate knowledge about the housing process.

Speaking to the media, Mabaso said the Human Settlements Department faces many challenges, ranging from infrastructure development issues in communities.

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“It is the responsibility of human settlements to ensure that all social amenities are available in our communities.

“We must create an environment that is conducive to investment and development. We are also tasked with providing decent housing for our residents, including those who applied for houses as far back as 1996, people living in hostels, informal settlements, backrooms, and the inner city. All these residents fall under the responsibility of Human Settlements,” he said.

Mabaso explained that there are processes in place to provide services to residents, and it is important for residents to be acquainted with these processes so that when they engage with them, they understand exactly what they are committing to.

He said those who applied for housing need to understand the process after obtaining a C-form. In particular, those who received the C-form as old applicants need to know the second layer of the process so that they can engage with it and familiarise themselves with that specific process.

“In most cases, we find people sitting at home with C-forms, yet they do not have approved subsidies. They have not been verified to check if they are eligible to receive fully subsidised government houses, which is why we conduct these public consultations, so that we are able to educate our people on the process and also articulate the programmes we are initiating to deal with issues of human settlements and how the city is planning to address the backlog,” he said.

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He added that the programmes are also aimed at advising residents on criminal activities taking place in their areas, so that they are able to prevent such activities in their communities.

This includes people who are illegally selling stands and RDP houses on social media, which often results in residents being scammed.

Urban News journalist spoke to an elderly woman from Snake Park, Busisiwe Mkhulise, who needed assistance as she is struggling to understand the housing process.

Mkhulise said she signed the RDP housing subsidy in February 2022, and it was approved in May of the same year.

After signing, she regularly visited the housing offices to check on the progress, and was informed that her details were on the system.

“During my last visit to the housing office in Johannesburg in 2023, I was given copies of the subsidy form and was told that my house had been approved and is at Fleurhof.

When I went to Florida to check, I was told that Fleurhof has no available spaces and is now full. I am failing to understand the process. I desperately need assistance,” said MKhulise.

She stated that she would greatly appreciate the MMC’s assistance, as she lives in a small, overcrowded shack with many grandchildren, so receiving a house would allow her to live in peace.