ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLARITY REGARDING ALLEGED FRAUD OF HOUSING PROJECT BY BENEFICIARY
EThekwini Municipality would like to clarify facts regarding alleged housing fraud by a person employed by a private company.
The suspect has incorrectly been described in media reports as an employee of eThekwini Municipality when she is in fact employed by a private entity.
The allegation against the suspect is that she declared herself unemployed with the intention of benefiting from a housing project in Illovu which has been designated for families affected by the 2022 floods.
As a person whose monthly income exceeds R3 500, the suspect does not qualify for a housing subsidy.
This inaccuracy was detected by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements who is responsible for the project implementation, as well as beneficiary registration and approvals for the Illovu Housing Project.
While the names of those accused of collaborating with the suspect have not been released, eThekwini would like to clarify that the City has not been involved in subsidy registration or approvals of potential beneficiaries linked to the Illovu Project.
All approvals are made by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements.
The approval and non-approval of beneficiaries is managed through the Housing Subsidy System, which is managed by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements and not eThekwini Municipality.
The City notes with disappointment the false narrative being published and asks that the false allegations be retracted.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
