A source who wished to remain anonymous for fear of his safety and that of his family accused the councillor of being corrupt.
He alleged that she goes around demanding title deeds from occupants and if people do not present their title deeds she sells the house.
He told the Herald that a few weeks ago a person who presented themselves as ward committee member came to their house and told them that the rightful owner of the house wanted his house back.
“I then asked if that person had papers, she said yes. But when I told her we should go to the municipality to verify she bailed out, instead of going to municipality she left and she was scared when I said I was calling the police,” he said.
He further said the councillor only came a few weeks later saying she was sent by the municipality to check their title deed.
“We exchanged words, I asked for a court order that gives her the authority to check for title deeds but she could not produce it. She told me that I did not even qualify for an RDP house because I did not vote,” he said.
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The source who claimed the RDP house was registered in his mother’s name, said he went to the municipality to get the title deed and maintained that indeed the house was rightfully theirs.
Greater Tzaneen Municipality spokesperson, Neville Ndlala, refuted the allegations and said it was impossible for anyone who did not have a title deed to sell an RDP house.
“Not even a ward councillor,” he said. Ndlala said the ward councillor and the ward committee went to investigate ownership of RDP houses as reported by the community.
The families visited were identified by the community. Those who are occupying the houses legally should not fear, this is done to ensure that illegal occupation is curbed.
We are also protecting residents by ensuring that people living in their communities are known to them.” Ndlala said there were over a 100 houses occupied by people who were not the rightful owners.
