The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has called on the Department of Human Settlements to accelerate a forensic investigation into social and affordable housing provider Communicare, focusing on its property ownership and compliance with the Social Housing Act, and to suspend ongoing evictions of elderly tenants until the probe is complete, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to Parliament, committee chair Nocks Seabi said the committee received briefings from the national department and the Western Cape on evictions that date back to 2018.
Seabi said that the context of the planned removals must be established to protect residents and the integrity of the social housing programme.
‘The forensic investigation must also ascertain whether the social housing provider adhered to the prescripts of the law in the management of their properties,’ he said.
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The committee asked for clarity on whether Communicare received funding from the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) and whether that funding followed required controls. The SHRA has emphasised transparency across funded projects in recent communications.
Communicare expressed its appreciation for the committee’s decision, confirmed the audit appointment, and reiterated its commitment to transparency.
The committee has asked the department’s director general to convene a meeting with provincial and City officials to resolve a stalled resident audit and stop further evictions until risks are understood.
Recent court rulings have revealed legal complexities surrounding social housing jurisdiction, underscoring the urgency of the committee’s call for a forensic review.
Read case files here: saflii.org
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Picture: Kashiefa Achmat
