A Katlehong family is convinced the mix-up of dates for their RDP house application is the reason the family is still without a suitable home.
Nomthandazo Mbatha (66) from Mofokeng Section told Kathorus MAIL she had applied for an RDP house in 1997 and has been following up on the status of her application with Katlehong customer care centre and the Department of Housing in Alberton on many occasions until she lost the ability to walk in 2020.
After 25 years of waiting, she is still clueless as to when she will be allocated a house, let alone the status of her application.
On Mbatha’s last visit to the department to inquire, she was handed a form that states she applied for an RDP in 2010, which contradicts the Form C document that proves she applied for a house in 1997.
She was flabbergasted to hear she applied in 2010 and blamed it on both officials and people who bribe officials for them to be considered first.
“There are many young people who applied after me, but they have received SMSes to collect keys for their homes. Some of them are known to me and have moved out of the community now.”
Her health condition has worsened over the years, and as a result, she can no longer visit the department. She often sends her grandchildren to follow up on the matter with no success.
Mbatha lives in a two-room shack she rents with her six grandchildren, aged between seven and 32. Four of them are still attending school.
She said her three daughters had died and only two of the children still have their fathers.
“One of the two is unemployed, while the other is self-employed,” said Mbatha.
“He comes to the child and tries to provide, but it is difficult for him as well because he works at a panel beater. When they do not have customers, there is no income.
“I provide everything for these children, from clothes and food to sanitary products. Two of my grandchildren completed school but are unemployed,” she said.
She said her main concern is that her grandchildren will be homeless when she dies because they have to pay the rent. The family relies on Mbatha’s pension grant and child social grants for the two youngest children. According to the family, this poses a challenge for them as they have to pay rent every month and somehow cover groceries and other needs.
City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said Mbatha’s house has not been approved.
He said, according to the National Housing Needs Register (the waiting list) and Housing Subsidy System (HSS), Mbatha applied for a house on March 18, 2010.
“There are no date mix-ups. She must bring her Form C as proof that she applied in 1997 to allow the department to correct her application dates,” said Dlamini.
When asked about options for CoE and the department to assist the family with consideration of their situation and health condition of Mbatha, Dlamini cited Mbatha should first update her application dates and then she will form part of the priority list of the department.
“The department can, however, not give any guarantee on the timeframes because that will depend on the availability of houses,” said Dlamini.
