Communities urged to report housing corruption

Human Settlements Minister Connie September says townships in South Africa must be desegregated so people of all races can live together. Image: Department of Human Settlements.

Addressing the Housing Summit in Clanwilliam in the Cederberg Municipality in the Western Cape, the minister said housing beneficiaries must be vigilant and speak out whenever they feel there is something wrong, irrespective of whether government authorities might be involved.

"When you see that something illegal is happening in your community or neighbourhood, please report it to the police or to the street committee," she said.

September condemned those who receive government houses and later rent them out to others or sell them illegally. She warned that those involved in such practices will no longer be eligible for a government subsidy.

The minister also encouraged people to participate in other government housing projects, such as the People's Housing Process (PHP), where communities come together to build their own houses with the financial aid and expertise provided by government.

"We are moving South Africa forward by making money available to build houses in the country. We are urging our communities to become active participants so that they can be empowered to make a meaningful contribution," she said.

While more than 3.6m houses have been built over the past 20 years, September said work was still underway to put roofs over people's heads.

She appealed to communities to be patient with government, saying plans were in place to deal with South Africa's housing problems.

She reiterated that South Africa could no longer afford the separate development approach, which was previously used by the apartheid government. The country wanted to build united and non-racial communities, where people of all backgrounds and races can live together in peace.

"We have a plan to do away with racial segregation by changing the way houses are being built," she claimed.