By Marcus Moloko
ActionSA has unveiled a new online reporting portal designed to tackle one of South Africa’s most persistent housing challenges, which remains the unlawful occupation and sale of RDP houses to foreign nationals.
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The initiative was spearheaded by Zandile Dabula, ActionSA’s MMC for Human Settlements, who has positioned herself at the forefront of exposing corruption in the housing sector.
“This portal is for the people. If you suspect that a foreign national is occupying or renting an RDP house, whether purchased illegally or rented out, you must report it. It is against the law, and together we will restore these homes to the rightful beneficiaries, she said.
The controversy surrounding RDP houses stretches back decades. These state-subsidized homes were introduced in the post-apartheid era to provide shelter for indigent South Africans. However, over time, allegations of corruption and mismanagement surfaced.
In the early 1990s to 2000s, early reports highlighted how government officials and intermediaries exploited loopholes, selling or allocating RDP houses to individuals who did not qualify. Around 2010, investigations revealed that some properties were being rented out commercially, undermining the program’s purpose. Around 2020, growing frustration among citizens intensified, according to reports, as thousands of qualifying South Africans remained on waiting lists while houses were allegedly diverted to foreign nationals through illicit sales.
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Zandile Dabula has consistently emphasized the need to expose corruption, target unscrupulous government officials suspected of selling RDP houses to foreign nationals and using the portal to gather evidence, testimonies, and proof of unlawful occupation.
The portal will be a tool to strengthen law enforcement and community oversight.
Residents can submit information online through the ActionSA RDP Reporting Portal.
