Question NW4112 to the MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
25 November 2022 - NW4112
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Whether her department conducted any investigation into illegal occupation of low-cost housing by government officials in the Free State; if not, why not; if so, what are the full, relevant details of the progress report of the investigation?
Reply:
The Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements has advised that its Security Management and Anti-Corruption (SMAC) unit conducted an investigation into illegally occupied low-cost housing in the following areas of Welkom, Warden, Sasolburg, Clarens, Schoonplaatz, Harrismith, and Mangaung Hillsideview. The Provincial Department states that the investigation was in response to the public outcry about the illegally occupied houses in the province, and that the aim was to determine the extent of illegal occupation of low-cost housing in the province.
The Provincial Department further indicates that the investigation though not necessarily targeting government officials, revealed that government officials were occupying some of the low-cost houses. In total 326 houses were found to be illegally occupied and 15 of those were occupied by government officials. For the benefit of the Member, detailed findings of the investigation to date is attached (Annexure as provided by the Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements) however the investigations are still ongoing in order to establish the full extent of the illegal occupation of low-cost housing in the province.