​The City of Johannesburg's Department of Human Settlements hosted a beneficiary education and allocation verification session in Region G's Thembelihle. The initiative was designed to raise awareness about housing allocation processes, enable residents to update their details in real time, and protect communities from scams and fraudulent practices. Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements Cllr Mlungisi ​Mabaso emphasised the importance of ensuring that long-standing applicants are not left behind.

“We are prioritising those who applied in 1996 and 1997 as they form the earliest batch of beneficiaries. Our aim is to delink applicants from defunct projects and connect them to active developments such as Southern Farms. By aligning the number of applicants with available housing units, we avoid overcommitting and ensure fairness," Mabaso explained.

Deputy Director of Allocations Thabo Tofile said applicants are verified against the Housing Subsidy System (HSS), checked for eligibility, and matched to available projects. This prevents duplication and ensures that only qualifying residents are allocated houses. The process also includes fraud checks to safeguard against individuals attempting to exploit the system.
For many residents, the session offered much-needed clarity. Hendrietta Buthelezi, 62, who applied for a house in 2004, shared: “I have grandchildren who help me check my status online, but today's engagement explained what the system messages mean. Not everyone has that support, so initiatives like these are very useful. We need more of them."

South Africa continues to face a significant housing backlog, with over 2.3 million households still in need of adequate housing, according to Statistics South Africa. Sessions like the one in Thembelihle are vital in bridging the gap between policy and lived experience, ensuring transparency and restoring trust in government processes.

“We will continue to meet communities where they are. These sessions empower residents, strengthen accountability, and protect them from scams while reinforcing the department's commitment to service delivery," concluded Cllr Mabaso.



Written by S'duduzo Dludla
09/09/2026

Recommended for you:

Joburg strengthens fair access to housing by opening doors to dignity
City fast-tracks integrated housing push, tackles Goudrand delays
City takes housing anti-scam drive to communities
Ivory Park residents help shape City of Joburg housing policy
City extends over R300m rates relief to pensioners

To stay informed about the latest developments in the City, connect with us on:

X: @CityofJoburgZA
Facebook: City of Joburg
Instagram: @CityofJoburg
TikTok: @CityofJoburg
Threads: @cityofjoburg
LinkedIn: City of Johannesburg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CityOfJoburgZA/videos