About 30 000 government officials are facing legal or court action for housing fraud, Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Monday.
"We are in the process of taking close to 30 000 government officials through a legal and prosecution process to recover the subsidy money they obtain[ed] fraudulently," said a statement released after a briefing in Johannesburg on the department's progress.
Over 600 have been convicted and punished so far.
"We will not rest until all of them are dealt with both by the courts and also by the government as an employer."
In addition, crooked developers who bribed officials to have projects cleared, would be taken through the courts, then blacklisted for further housing projects.
Sisulu urged people over 70 who were still on housing waiting lists, but had not yet received their house, to contact the department.
"If there is an elder who is above 70 years, who is still waiting for a house, please contact our call centre (0800-146873) and we will ensure that you have a house the soonest."
Sisulu said there was a growing number of younger people receiving houses, leading them to believe that they could have passed the phase where those over 70 were still waiting for their houses.
Military veterans would also receive some of the 10 000 houses allocated to those who qualify by December 2009.
The department had built 2,7 million houses so far and hoped to reach 2,8 million by March 2009, the end of the financial year.
"What we are most proud of is that from 2004 we have built 1,2 million houses. In other words, in just fours years we have provided shelter to more than five million people."
Partnerships with the private sector, non-governmental organisations and banks had accelerated housing delivery, she added. - Sapa
"We are in the process of taking close to 30 000 government officials through a legal and prosecution process to recover the subsidy money they obtain[ed] fraudulently," said a statement released after a briefing in Johannesburg on the department's progress.
Over 600 have been convicted and punished so far.
"We will not rest until all of them are dealt with both by the courts and also by the government as an employer."
In addition, crooked developers who bribed officials to have projects cleared, would be taken through the courts, then blacklisted for further housing projects.
Sisulu urged people over 70 who were still on housing waiting lists, but had not yet received their house, to contact the department.
"If there is an elder who is above 70 years, who is still waiting for a house, please contact our call centre (0800-146873) and we will ensure that you have a house the soonest."
Sisulu said there was a growing number of younger people receiving houses, leading them to believe that they could have passed the phase where those over 70 were still waiting for their houses.
Military veterans would also receive some of the 10 000 houses allocated to those who qualify by December 2009.
The department had built 2,7 million houses so far and hoped to reach 2,8 million by March 2009, the end of the financial year.
"What we are most proud of is that from 2004 we have built 1,2 million houses. In other words, in just fours years we have provided shelter to more than five million people."
Partnerships with the private sector, non-governmental organisations and banks had accelerated housing delivery, she added. - Sapa
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