Gauteng Department of Human Settlements will introduce biometric technology in allocation of RDP houses to eliminate corruption and manipulation of waiting lists. MEC Jacob Mamabolo said this advanced technology will modernise the delivery of houses in the province and is already in use by other departments like Home Affairs.
Mamabolo made the announcement during the post SoPA media briefing held at the Gauteng Legislature yesterday.
“Through this modernisation of housing delivery we will urgently deliver completed housing projects that are not subject of dispute based on corruption and manipulated waiting lists,” said Mamabolo.
MEC Mamabolo said it is the commitment of the new administration to bid goodbye to the endless days of waiting for an RDP house because of impediments such as corruption, manipulation of waiting lists, selling of RDP houses to non-qualifying beneficiaries and so on.
The department also want to see an end to the abandoning of RDP houses and using them as sources of income by renting them out to non-deserving people. Mamabolo said modernising human settlements in post-apartheid South Africa is one of the imperatives they must implement without fail, particularly considering the erstwhile racial spatial planning of the towns and cities.
“In redesigning the new spatial landscape of our province, we will significantly and qualitatively improve the use of land and land management, which we understand to be the only source of wealth,” said Mamabolo.
He said that one of the interventions as the new administration is to work with the Deeds Office to change the turnaround time and fast-track the issuing of title deeds to beneficiaries.
The department also committed to deal with the hostel situation.
“We remain committed to converting hostels into family units. Shortly, work to rebuild Thokoza hostel will commence, working closely with Ekurhuleni metro. It must be noted that the hostel redevelopment plan will find expression across the entire province, as witnessed in Jabulani hostel as an example,” mentioned MEC Mamabolo.
Following the recent evictions within the inner city and other parts of the province the MEC mentioned that they are going to foster relationships with various stakeholders to lessen evictions. The MEC said he has noted the brutality and inhumanity with which some eviction companies use to execute Court Orders.
“The extreme use of force without any consideration of the vulnerable groups such as women, children, the aged and the disabled is only reminiscent of the days of apartheid. Going forward we will work to advance the protection and dignity of our people. We held a successful meeting with the Gauteng Board of Sheriffs, and we believe that working together with various stakeholders we can lessen the impact of evictions on our people,” lamented MEC Mamabolo.
For more information:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
