KANYAMAZANE – This became evident when yet another beneficiary, Margaret Nkosi, accused the Department of Human Settlements of failing to allocate her RDP house.
Nkosi said she has been waiting for over 13 years for the government to officially allocate and hand over an RDP house to her and her family, but to no avail. According to Nkosi, she applied for the RDP house in 2002 and was informed that her application was successful, but to date she has never seen the house.
“I was informed that my house was ready, but then I was told funny stories when I was supposed to have been moved into the house. I waited in vain for the first five years hoping something positive would come, but nothing came,” said Nkosi.
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Years went by and the family started their own investigations into the matter. Nkosi’s brother, Sizwe Madonsela, said that their investigation proved that an RDP house belonging to Nkosi was approved and built by the department, but was given to another person.
“We uncovered that the house was fraudulently sold to someone else. It is so painful to see my sister living like a hobo when according to government records, she has a house,” said Madonsela.
Asked for comment, the spokesperson for the Department of Human Settlements’ Freddy Ngobe acknowledged that there are unscrupulous individuals who defraud legitimate beneficiaries out of their houses.
“The project in question was marred by challenges of illegal connections, invasions and alleged sale of houses. As a result, MEC Speedy Mashilo has intervened by coordinating eligible beneficiaries to receive their rightful houses and physically evict invaders,” said Ngobe.
“According to our records, the house duly belongs to Nkosi and she’s supposed to occupy it.” Ngobe said Nkosi’s house was built around 2003 at the old Tekwane South project, and was issued with a title deed in her name.
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“After extensive engagements between the department and the City of Mbombela, her matter was referred to the Legal Aid Board since the house is now outside the ownership of government. Given the status quo, Nkosi is further implored to resuscitate the matter through legal means,” advised Ngobe.
