Pretoria - Gauteng Department of Human Settlements will soon introduce biometric technology in the allocation of RDP houses to eliminate corruption and manipulation of waiting lists.
The new advanced technology, which will modernise the delivery of houses in the province, is already in use by other departments such as Home Affairs.
The system will also rid endless days of waiting for an RDP house because of impediments such as corruption and manipulation of waiting lists.
“Through this modernisation of housing delivery, we will urgently deliver completed housing projects that are not the subject of dispute based on corruption and manipulated waiting lists,” Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo said at a post State of the Province Address, on Thursday.
He said it will also put an end to the abandoning of RDP houses and using them as sources of income by renting them out to non-deserving people.
MEC Mamabolo said modernising human settlements in post-apartheid South Africa is one of the imperatives they must implement without fail, particularly considering the erstwhile racial spatial planning of the towns and cities.
“In redesigning the new spatial landscape of our province, we will significantly and qualitatively improve the use of land and land management, which we understand to be the only source of wealth,” said MEC Mamabolo.
He said that one of the interventions as the new administration will be to work with the Deeds Office to change the turnaround time and fast-track the issuing of title deeds to beneficiaries.
The department also committed to deal with the hostel situation.
“We remain committed to converting hostels into family units. Shortly, work to rebuild Thokoza hostel will commence, working closely with Ekurhuleni metro. It must be noted that the hostel redevelopment plan will find expression across the entire province, as witnessed in Jabulani hostel as an example,” mentioned MEC Mamabolo.
Following the recent evictions within the inner city and other parts of the province, the MEC mentioned that they are going to foster relationships with various stakeholders to lessen evictions. – SAnews.gov.za
