Joburg Residents Empowered with Crucial Housing Knowledge
The City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, is urging community leaders to educate residents about government housing processes, ensuring they don’t fall victim to housing scams or misinformation.
MMC Mabaso hosted a public engagement session at the Orlando East Communal Hall in Soweto, emphasizing the importance of housing application transparency and RDP housing allocations.
“It is heartbreaking to see people who applied for government housing as far back as 1996 still unsure of their application status. A responsible leader ensures that applicants holding a C-Form know whether they qualify for an RDP house or not,” said Cllr Mabaso.
Bringing Housing Services Directly to the Community
The housing outreach event allowed residents to:
✅ Check their housing application status on the government housing waiting list
✅ Engage directly with the Department of Human Settlements about RDP house applications
✅ Interact with private developers such as ValuMax and Calgro M3 about affordable housing options
✅ Learn about Johannesburg Social Housing (JOSHCO) rental opportunities
✅ Raise concerns about illegal housing sales, title deeds, and backlog issues
Officials from the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO), the City’s Group Forensic Investigations Unit, and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements were present to address fraud concerns, housing subsidy approvals, and low-cost housing projects.
Clearing Up Misconceptions About C-Forms and Housing Subsidies
One of the key issues discussed was the status of C-Form holders, who applied for RDP houses between 1996 and 1999 before municipalities had digital databases. In 2008, the Gauteng government launched the Ziveze campaign to ensure all applicants were registered on the national housing demand database.
Cllr Mabaso clarified that a C-Form does not guarantee an RDP house but serves as a formal request for government housing assistance. Housing eligibility is confirmed only through a subsidy approval, which residents can verify at the City’s Human Settlements offices.
A Commitment to Transparency and Housing Delivery
Through public engagement sessions, MMC Mabaso aims to empower communities with housing knowledge, ensuring that residents can navigate government housing processes, apply for fully subsidized housing, and hold leaders accountable for service delivery.
“Communities must understand government housing policies so they can engage with us based on facts. Our goal is to make RDP housing allocations and social housing opportunities more transparent and accessible,” he added.
By bringing housing services closer to the people, the City of Johannesburg is reinforcing its commitment to transparency, service delivery, and fair housing allocation, ensuring that eligible South Africans receive the low-cost housing they deserve.
