March on March Movement to Take Legal Action Against Illegal Occupants of RDP Houses

The March on March movement is preparing to launch legal proceedings against illegal occupants of RDP houses in Inqutu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, following reports of hijackings affecting the properties of two elderly women.

The organisation's spokesperson, Xolani Zuma, emphasised that this intervention was crucial in protecting the housing rights of South African citizens.

"These homes, part of the government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), were created to assist individuals in need."

Zuma stressed the importance of ensuring that these provisions were not exploited.

“The movement will be writing to the MEC on Monday to escalate the matter, which was first reported to the police on Friday during our march,” he explained.

In conversations with the affected women, the movement learned how their homes were overtaken, a situation amplified by the involvement of illegal immigrants allegedly collaborating with some South African citizens.

“We are alarmed by this blatant disregard for our elderly citizens,” said Zuma.

Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for KZN's Department of Human Settlements, confirmed the troublesome criminal conduct in the community.

“We have received a complaint from March on March, and we are fully committed to working alongside them and various communities to root out such criminals. It is illegal to sell RDP houses, and we are taking strong action,” Sibiya affirmed.

The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said in a recent statement, that his department was committed to decisive action against any form of criminality that disrupted the lives of innocent community members.

“We are building houses for South Africans who are in need of shelter, not for the generation of profit by greedy and irresponsible individuals,” Duma said.

Encouraging public support, he called on the people of KZN to unite in a visible display of disapproval against the misuse of RDP houses and warned off repercussions for the perpetrators.

“It is a criminal offence to sell an RDP house within the first eight years of ownership without proper permission from the Department of Human Settlements. Those who violate these rules will forfeit their houses.”

Duma reassured the community that his department will rigorously collaborate with law enforcement to ensure stability within human settlements.

He reiterated the procedure for beneficiaries looking to sell their properties after the eight-year threshold, emphasising the department's responsibility to manage these units effectively for the benefit of those in need.

Duma affirmed the department's commitment to work alongside prominent bodies, including the South African Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector, in ensuring every complaint regarding the illicit use of RDP houses was thoroughly investigated and actioned.

The influx of illegal and undocumented immigrants into the country has been rife and a cause for concern for authorities.

During a media briefing yesterday, the Border Management Authority's (BMA) commissioner, Doctor Michael Masiapato, revealed that approximately 10,000 illegal immigrants were intercepted by border guards in the first quarter of 2025/26.

Masiapato stated that out of the 10,000 illegal immigrants arrested, 5,826 were undocumented, 2,127 were inadmissible, and 2,001 were deemed undesirable.

“In this instance, the majority of the intercepted and deported individuals were Basotho, Zimbabweans, and Mozambicans. Incrementally since July 2022, the Border Guards have been able to stop about 496,622 people who attempted to enter South Africa illegally.

"In this quarter, our border law enforcement team also intercepted and handed over to the SAPS a total of 15 high-powered suspected stolen vehicles for further handling. Incrementally since July 2022, the Border Guards intercepted over 349 vehicles that were meant to be smuggled out of the country by criminal syndicates,” the commissioner added.

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