Following the discovery of an apparent scam involving one of its housing projects, the City of Cape Town is urging residents to be cautious if ever they are approached about housing opportunities. This is especially important when residents are asked to pay to receive or buy a subsidy housing opportunity.
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‘We were recently made aware of an apparent scam involving our Maroela housing project in Kraaifontein,’ explained City’s MMC for Human Settlements Councillor Carl Pophaim.
‘It is heartbreaking to hear that residents are being made promises of housing opportunities which cannot and will not be kept. There is only one way to lawfully receive a subsidy housing opportunity and that is to qualify after registering on the Housing Needs Register,’ Councillor Pophaim continued.
Pophaim added that the register is protected, updated and audited to prevent queue jumping and to provide opportunities in a fair and ordered manner.
According to the City, the current phase of the project, which consists of Breaking New Ground (BNG) homes, is progressing well and is expected to be completed in mid-2025 if all goes as planned.
The housing project aims to provide BNG homes for those who earn up to R3 500 a month, and planned Gap units, for those who earn between R3 501 and R22 000 per month.
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With regards to housing opportunity scams, Pophaim explained that there are a few red flags which residents can look out for when approached about a housing opportunity:
- Asked to pay to register
- An opportunity is advertised as an ‘RDP house’
- Asked to pay for a subsidised housing opportunity
- If a BNG house has been built within the past eight years
- If correspondence does not have a City letterhead
‘It is important that residents are familiar with these and are able to protect themselves. These types of cases happen far too often and often impact the most desperate, vulnerable residents,’ said Pophaim.
‘If residents think they might have been the victim of a housing scam, they are encouraged to please report it to SAPS and to the City for investigation.’
Residents are urged to remember that the City will never ask for payment for a government-subsidised housing opportunity.
Pophaim also encouraged residents to update their details on the register to ensure the City can contact them when they do qualify for a housing opportunity.
The Housing Needs Register can be accessed here.
Anonymous tip-offs are welcomed to help the City protect its projects and operations. Residents can contact 08600 1100 77.
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