AfriForum lays criminal charge against Free State Department of Human Settlements

The civil rights organisation AfriForum today instituted a criminal charge against officials, as well as contractors and suppliers of the Free State Department of Human Settlements at the Parkweg Police Station in Bloemfontein.   

This step follows after it came to light in a national newspaper in January 2017 that R400 million, which was earmarked for low cost housing, was unlawfully paid out to contractors in the 2010/2011 financial year. Two of the beneficiary contractors and suppliers are amongst others Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Nozuko Mbalula, wife of Fikile Mbalula (the Minister of Sport and Recreation).

“R1,3 billion was made available by the National Treasury for low cost housing and the erection of 21 000 RDP houses. Court documents indicate that not a single house has been built up to now,” says Pieter Myburg, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Bloemfontein.

Marcus Pawson, Head of Local Government Affairs at AfriForum, is of the opinion that the civil rights watchdog regularly receives information regarding corrupt operations within municipalities and provinces. “This is however the single biggest charge that AfriForum has been confronted with up until now.”

“We are no longer going to allow state officials to get away with fraud. Those stealing money from tax payers and leaving the poor without a roof over their head cannot get off scot-free,” concludes Myburg.