The homes are meant for people who genuinely don’t have a roof over their heads.
A call has been made to the eMalahleni local municipality to swiftly investigate allegations of the sale of RDP homes in the Witbank area.
The homes being sold are in the Siyanqoba area, according to DA councillor Aaron Khumalo.
Khumalo said they were calling on municipal manager Sizwe Mayisela to launch a probe after several homes were advertised on Facebook as being up for sale.
Khumalo said it is unacceptable that residents can be approved to get the homes and then sell them…
“These are RDP houses that are supposed to be awarded to residents who are genuinely in need of a roof over their heads,” he said.
He said a lot of people in genuine needs of RDP houses continue to be on the waiting list while others see it proper to sell them.
They have now reported the matter to both Mayisela and human settlement MEC Norah Mahlangu to make sure criminal investigations are launched and those breaking the law be brought to book.
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“This is clearly indicative that the individuals who are guilty of selling RDP houses which were freely given to them had no genuine need for the houses in the first place,” said Khumalo.
This robs genuine cases of their opportunity to housing and demonstrates the vacuum in the system of Housing Priorities and Needs, the opposition councillor said.
“The DA will hold the municipality accountable in requesting it to conduct a RDP house audit,” Khumalo said.
Meanwhile human settlements MEC Norah Mahlangu has condemned the alleged sale of government subsidised houses.
“Low cost houses (RDPs) are not for profit making by the beneficiaries or anyone else. Any person found to be renting out a property especially within the 8 year period, will then create the impression that the property is not acquired for the desired purpose,” Mahlangu said.
“Therefore in line with the provision of the Housing Amendment Act which prohibits the sale of an RDP house outside a period of eight years, such houses should be offered back to the Department which alongside with the Municipality will find a qualifying beneficiary as a replacement,” said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu urged all beneficiaries to refrain from selling their houses illegally and advised them to report such illegal transactions to the department or the country’s law enforcement agencies.
(edited by MLM)
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