Johannesburg - Some Kroonstad residents had been waiting for RDP houses since 1990, the Public Protector heard during a meeting on Wednesday.
Thuli Madonsela further heard complaints about elderly applicants dying, and their descendants still waiting for the houses, her spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said in a statement.
Residents packed a local hall to tell Madonsela their concerns. One woman said she had applied for a house in 2006.
“I applied for a house in 2006 and when I ask about progress, municipal officials always inform me that I am still on the waiting list, even though the Department of Human Settlements tell me that, according to their records, my house is ready for occupation,” she was quoted as saying.
Madonsela concluded her three-day visit to the Free State on Wednesday. She was visiting all provinces to discuss problems with RDP housing and minibus taxis.
The mayor of the Moqhaka local municipality, Jihad Mohapi, told the meeting there were more than 10 000 housing applications in the area and enough land to build those houses.
But the municipality wanted to make sure it would be able to supply water, sanitation and electricity to all these houses, according to Masibi.
In response, Madonsela said her office would work with the municipality and the provincial government to speed up the resolution of complaints.
On Thursday, Madonsela would travel to the North West. She would meet residents at the Klerksdorp City Hall.
On Friday she would be in Mahikeng at the provincial legislature. - Sapa