Simelane probes illegal RDP house sales to foreigners

Gauteng's RDP housing scheme just got hit with a massive fraud probe over cash sales to foreigners.

RDP rules get shredded illegally

• Gauteng Human Settlements launched a full investigation.
• Allegations claim poor folks sell subsidised homes to non-citizens.
• Cash deals bypass strict eight-year sale ban.
• Properties meant for needy South Africans vanish fast.

Qualification locks out outsiders

• BNG houses target low-income citizens only.
• No property ownership and income caps apply.
• Title deeds come after waiting, but sales stay restricted.
• Foreign nationals never qualify for official allocation.

How the dodgy deals happen

• Desperate beneficiaries offload for quick money privately.
• Buyers include undocumented migrants or legal residents.
• Some turn houses into rentals or small shops.
• Long waiting lists grow while shacks stay packed.

Probe targets specific hot spots

• Claims focus on areas like Devon with organised flips.
• Officials check records and chase evidence hard.
• Complaints poured in from communities online.
• Wrongdoers face eviction plus criminal heat.

Fraud scams pile on the mess

• Fake officials promise houses for bribes.
• Scammers use social media and calls to trick people.
• Department warns no legit RDP needs upfront cash.
• Report dodgy activity to the hotline immediately.

Community anger boils over

• Rightful applicants rot in informal settlements.
• Illegal sales spark overcrowding and resource strain.
• Tensions rise when foreigners run businesses there.
• Housing delivery slows, and trust takes a beating.