24/04/2026
Some Corruption Stories & Incidents of RDP Housing
1.Randfontein/Toekomsrus Illegal Occupations (2023): Over 360 houses were occupied illegally in Gauteng due to long-standing complaints about a lack of transparency in the beneficiary list, with allegations that houses were sold for R5,000–R7,000.
2.Westonaria Borwa Mega Project (2025): Residents alleged that over 200 RDP houses were occupied illegally and sold for R40,000 each, bypassing people on the waiting list since 1996.
3.Gauteng Public Servants Scandal (2013): Over 1,500 government officials were found to have unlawfully benefited from RDP houses, prompting the provincial government to force them to repay the building costs.
4.Illegal Sales in Mkhondo (2023): In Mpumalanga reported that over 15 RDP houses meant for low-income citizens were wrongfully allocated, with residents lacking title deeds for over a decade.
5.Freedom Park House Hijacking (2025): Residents with legitimate title deeds reported being forced to live in shacks while their RDP houses were occupied by others, including foreign nationals, with alleged collusion from local officials.
6.Eastern Cape Non-payment Scam (2025): The SIU is investigating allegations that over R25 million in housing funds in the Eastern Cape were not paid to contractors, stalling projects and leaving homes incomplete.
Common Corrupt Activities
"Queue Jumping": Officials take bribes—often via unofficial "consultants" or community leaders—to move applicants to the front of the list.
Unlawful Sale/Rental: Beneficiaries or scammers sell RDP houses for profit (e.g., around R40,000 to R100,000+), despite selling being illegal within the first eight years.
Hijacking of Empty Units: Unfinished or abandoned houses are often seized, sometimes leading to violent clashes.
Fake Online Scams: Fraudsters create fake Facebook posts claiming to represent the Department of Human Settlements, asking people to pay money to check their application status or get a house.
Impact on Citizens
The corruption has led to a situation where rightful beneficiaries often live in shack settlements or backyard dwellings for over 20 years, while others, including civil servants,councillors rent out their illegally obtained RDP houses for income
The rightful beneficiaries are left to suffer.
Right2Housing NPO fighting for transparent,fair and accountable RDP Housing Administration.
