Irregularities in Allocation of 300 Houses in Jabulani, Soweto

Part of our concern stems from the thousands of residents in Jabulani and surrounding communities who have been on housing waiting lists for many years. Some residents still hold C-forms dating back to 1996. This demonstrates that they applied for subsidised housing nearly three decades ago without assistance.

Residents should not be denigrated to simple numbers. They are families who have followed the prescribed processes, submitted the required documentation and waited patiently for the chance of a place to call home.

ActionSA calls on the City of Johannesburg and the City’s housing entities to provide clear answers to the following questions:

• What exact criteria were used to select the 300 beneficiaries?
• How were the beneficiaries verified against the official housing waiting list?
• Why are residents who have been waiting since 1996 still without homes while other applicants have received housing?
• Will the beneficiary list and the criteria used for the allocation be made available for public scrutiny, subject to applicable privacy laws?

These are reasonable questions from residents who have waited for almost 30 years. They deserve answers.

Housing must never become a political favour or a reward for connections. It is a constitutional right.

For the residents of Jabulani who have waited since 1996, another promise of “your time will come” is not good enough.

They deserve to know where they stand, why they have been waiting for so long, and when they can expect a fair opportunity to receive the homes they have been waiting for.

ActionSA will continue to stand with the residents of Jabulani and communities across Johannesburg who are yet to have the dignity of a place to call home. We will continue to demand a public housing allocation system that is transparent and no resident is left behind because they lack political connections.