| City calls for housing scam caution | City calls for housing scam caution | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Common%20Online%20Scams%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City encourages residents to be cautious when approached about a housing opportunity and to be aware of scammers. This is especially important when residents are asked to pay to receive or to buy a subsidy housing opportunity. The City will never ask residents to pay for a government subsidised housing opportunity. Residents may report suspicious or illegal activity to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their investigation. <br></p> | <p>'We were recently made aware of an apparent scam involving our Maroela housing project in Kraaifontein. The current phase of the project, consisting of Breaking New Ground (BNG) homes, for those who earn up to R 3 500 a month, and the planned Gap units, for those who earn between R3 501 and R22 000 a month, is progressing well and is expected to be completed in mid-2025, if all goes as planned. It is heartbreaking to hear that residents are being made promises of housing opportunities which cannot and will not be kept. There is only one way to lawfully receive a subsidy housing opportunity and that is to qualify after registering on the Housing Needs Register. The Register is protected, updated and audited. This is necessary to prevent queue-jumping and to provide opportunities in a fair, ordered manner.</p><p>'There are a few red flags which residents can look out for when approached about a housing opportunity. It is important that residents are familiar with these and are able to protect themselves. These types of cases happen far too often and often impact the most desperate, vulnerable residents. If residents think they might have been the victim of a housing scam, they are encouraged to please report it to SAPS and to the City for investigation. We also encourage residents to update their details on the Register to ensure the City can contact them when they do qualify for a housing opportunity,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Carl Pophaim.</p><p><strong>Housing scams red flags to look out for:</strong></p><ul><li>Asked to pay to register </li><li>An opportunity is advertised as a 'RDP house'</li><li>Asked to pay for a subsidised housing opportunity</li><li>If a BNG house has been built within the past eight years </li><li>If correspondence does not have a City letterhead<br> <br><br>Residents are encouraged to visit this link to update their details on the Housing Needs Register: <a href="https://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/HWL2012Online/" target="_blank">https://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/HWL2012Online/</a><br><strong> </strong><br><br><strong>Anonymous tip-offs are welcomed to help the City protect its projects and operations </strong><strong>and residents are encouraged to c</strong><strong>all: 0800 1100 77</strong><br><br> <br> <br><br><strong>End</strong></li></ul><p><br></p> | 2024-02-05T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#1e6d4dd7-f74b-4034-8fc0-0ab06e8d9e5a;L0|#01e6d4dd7-f74b-4034-8fc0-0ab06e8d9e5a|scam;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#a4eccbe6-2bec-49aa-ad58-8ed41a372c82;L0|#0a4eccbe6-2bec-49aa-ad58-8ed41a372c82|housing;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
