Decades after the dawn of democracy, millions of South Africans continue to live in informal settlements, waiting in vain for their promised Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses.

As hope dwindles amid persistent delays and allegations of corruption in housing allocations, many are left questioning the government’s commitment to addressing this urgent issue.

In December last year, the University of Pretoria revealed in an article published by the Conversation that the backlog of RDP is estimated at 2.4 million with the number of houses being delivered declining from 75,000 units in 2019 to 25,000 units in 2023.

Despite ongoing housing challenges, delivery has slowed to a near standstill. Informal settlements are expanding, and land reform efforts remain stalled, signalling a troubling lack of prioritisation in housing policy.

In an exclusive interview with IOL, Martha Khoza, a 57-year-old single mother from Daveyton in the East Rand, shared her struggles. Khoza lives in a cramped two-bedroom shack with her daughter and two grandsons.

She has been selling vegetables outside the Daveyton Mall to make ends meet. After applying for an RDP house in 1998 following a difficult divorce, she has yet to receive any assistance.

Like many others in her community, Khoza feels that the government's failure to deliver on housing promises is an affront to the millions of South Africans who are desperate for decent homes.

"I followed up for years, but I eventually got tired. What’s worse is that some who applied after me have already received houses," she lamented.

After her husband passed away in Bela Bela, Khoza returned to Daveyton due to financial hardships.

"I had to set up a shack because I couldn't live with my brothers and their families," she explained.

The situation is dire; her daughter, now 39, lives with her, and her grandsons are forced to share cramped sleeping arrangements with neighbours. "A boy his age should be studying in his own room, but instead, he has to sleep at our neighbours’ home."

What is worse, she said “Selling these small veggies will not build us a house and my daughter has been working as a nanny for our relative in Benoni.”

Khoza mentioned that each the struggle never ends when the weather gets too cold or too hot.

“It has been pouring recently, it affected my furniture as well as my yard because there is no proper drainage system… we took some of our belongings to my brother’s house as we feared the rain might get worse.”

Since 1996, RDP houses have been constructed for residents of Daveyton, yet many applicants, like Khoza, remain without homes. She noted that younger individuals continue to move into the community, reiterating the disparity in housing distribution and access.

Khoza's family is just one among millions whose dreams of homeownership remain unfulfilled, even as the Department of Human Settlements claims to have built approximately three million RDP houses since the 1990s, benefiting around 20 million people.

In response to the persistent housing shortage, Human Settlements spokesperson Tsekiso Machike emphasised that the department has implemented various housing programs aimed at providing decent shelter. These include fully subsidised houses, Breaking New Ground (RDP), social housing, and First Home Finance, which assists individuals in purchasing or building their own homes.

On the issue of corruption, Machike asserted that illegal selling of government houses is a criminal offense.

"Fighting fraud and corruption is a collective responsibility. We encourage anyone suspecting wrongdoing to report it to law enforcement," he stated.

He stressed that the department is committed to combating fraud and will take action against those who undermine citizens' constitutional right to adequate shelter.

Machike mentioned that approximately two million people are currently registered on the National Housing Needs Register (NHNR). He clarified that not every individual on the register qualifies for an RDP house; some may qualify for different housing programs based on their income levels.

As informal settlements continue to proliferate, Machike assured that plans are in place to improve living conditions in these areas.

"We aim to upgrade over 4,000 informal settlements as part of the 2024-2029 Medium Term Development Plan," he noted, citing successful upgrades in areas like eThekwini, Bela Bela, and Knysna.

He also urged the public not to assume that all residents of informal settlements are waiting for RDPs.

"Many have already benefited from housing programs but have relocated in search of better opportunities. Additionally, some residents may not qualify for RDPs but for other options like rental stock," he explained.

As the housing crisis deepens, the plight of individuals like Martha Khoza serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for meaningful action and accountability in South Africa's housing delivery system. The time for change is long overdue.

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Service Delivery in Crisis | RDP promises vs reality - inside South Africa's housing ticking timebomb