The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, in partnership with the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, has acted swiftly and decisively in apprehending a fraudster who attempted to exploit vulnerable members of the public.
Earlier this week, a member of the public walked into the Department’s Customer Support Centre and confessed to the Director that she had illegally collected more than R100,000 from multiple individuals. She falsely promised to fast-track their applications for government-subsidised housing – commonly known as Breaking New Ground (BNG) or RDP houses – by claiming she had the ability to help them “jump the housing waiting list.”
The Director of the Customer Support Centre immediately escalated the matter and worked with law enforcement to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect. She was taken into custody by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and is currently being held by the South African Police Service (SAPS), pending a court appearance for attempted fraud.
MEC Tasneem Motara stated, “I wish to commend the official who acted responsibly and was not tempted to get involved in any corrupt activity herself. We are serious about cracking down on corruption and fraud, especially those who are trying to take advantage of citizens who have a real need to be allocated as soon as possible.”
This arrest comes as the Department continues to warn the public against falling prey to housing scams. Please be aware of unscrupulous individuals who pose as officials from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements — falsely claiming to be Directors, MECs, or Heads of Department — to deceive and extort money from the public.
IMPORTANT: The Department does NOT charge for any of its services.
The Department urges all residents to remain vigilant and not be misled by individuals asking for money to:
- Skip or “jump” the housing waiting list.
- Buy RDP/BNG houses.
- Purchase land through any departmental programme.
We strongly advise the public:
- Never to share personal information with unknown individuals.
- Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from the Department.
- Rely only on official communication channels for information and updates.
If you encounter any suspicious behaviour or fraudulent offers, report the matter immediately to your nearest police station and visit one of our Customer Support Centres for assistance.”
