President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against the unlawful sale and occupation of subsidised houses in KwaZulu-Natal, calling for greater transparency in housing allocations. During a visit to the Cornubia Integrated Human Settlements Project north of Durban, Ramaphosa emphasized the need for clear information about who qualifies for housing, how many units will be allocated, and when construction projects will be completed. This comes as families displaced by the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods continue to be relocated to permanent homes.
The Cornubia project is part of the government's efforts to move flood survivors out of temporary accommodation and into permanent housing. Four years after the disaster, some affected families have received homes, while others are still waiting for relocation. Ramaphosa said communities need to be informed about the allocation process to prevent rumors of fraud and queue-jumping. He urged government departments and implementing agencies to provide regular updates on construction and relocation processes.
Ramaphosa's visit to Cornubia comes amid previous concerns over housing fraud in KwaZulu-Natal. In May, the provincial government announced an investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate linked to the sale of RDP houses. The investigation included allegations that a subsidised house intended for an eligible beneficiary had been handed to an unauthorised occupant, bypassing official allocation procedures. In 2017, eThekwini Municipality also warned the public against buying municipal flats in Cornubia.
The President emphasized that the government would not allow subsidised houses to be sold unlawfully or occupied outside the proper allocation processes. He called on communities to protect housing developments and report suspected wrongdoing. Ramaphosa said that if allegations of fraud and unlawful occupation occur, they must be reported and investigated. He also urged communities to reject the unlawful sale or occupation of subsidised houses.
Ramaphosa said that government departments, municipalities, and implementing agencies must fulfil their responsibilities and communicate clearly with communities waiting for homes. He emphasized the need for transparency about project timelines and explanations of when outstanding houses would be completed. The President said that the government is committed to ensuring that housing projects deliver permanent homes and functioning communities.
The President added that emergency accommodation must never become a permanent way of life. He said that communities should be kept informed throughout construction and relocation processes to reduce uncertainty and prevent rumors about housing allocations. Ramaphosa emphasized that the success of the programme depends on all parties fulfilling their responsibilities and protecting public facilities from corruption and neglect.
To prevent illegal sales, Ramaphosa said the government would monitor the situation and introduce measures to prevent properties from being unlawfully occupied or transferred. The government will track the allocation of houses and implement social security measures to ensure that properties are not sold outside of the set parameters. The President emphasized that people should have title to their homes, but that title must be vested in them and not sold within a short timeframe.
Key points
- President Cyril Ramaphosa warns against the unlawful sale and occupation of subsidised houses in KwaZulu-Natal.
- The government is committed to ensuring that housing projects deliver permanent homes and functioning communities.
- Ramaphosa urges communities to protect housing developments and report suspected wrongdoing.
