Makeshifts tents that homeless people lived in in District Six which have now been taken down.
Gallo Images/Misha Jordaan
- The Western Cape government has warned about a scam that promises fake title deeds and housing approval letters.
- Hopeful home owners are being scammed out of R2 300, with claims that they would be bumped up the government housing waiting list.
- The department says due processes have to be followed to attain government housing.
The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has warned prospective home owners from being scammed into paying for fake title deeds and housing approval letters.
A WhatsApp message claiming to assist people in receiving a house within two weeks had been circulating, the department said. Scammers ask people to pay R2 300 for an approval letter and title deed to qualify for the housing opportunity.
Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said: “Vulnerable residents often fall prey to these scams in the hope of being assisted, or bumped up on the waiting list for a government housing opportunity.
“In most cases, money exchanged due to fraudulent scams is not recovered. To be considered for a government housing opportunity, citizens need to be registered on the housing database at their local municipality.”
Targeted areas include Khayelitsha, Stellenbosch, Montana, Paarl and…
