Is it possible to transfer an RDP application from one province to another?

The long answer

It’s not clear whether this is possible: the only official answer from Human Settlements to the question of whether it’s possible to apply for a house in another province, is that as you can only get a subsidy once, you can certainly apply in another province but you would have to wait your turn in the new province as that area would also have a waiting list. 

This does not answer your question of whether the approval that you got for a house that was not built, can be transferred to Gauteng from North West. Human Settlements does not say whether an approval can be transferred from one province to another. 

It may be difficult because each province has its own housing allocation system and so an approval in North West may not be recognised in Gauteng. (Also because there is a severe housing shortage in Gauteng, apparently because of some 300,000 people moving there each year in search of work.)

But you should certainly explore the option. Perhaps the first thing to do is to gather all your documents, like your proof of registration and the proof of approval you got for the house they did not build for you in North West, and your later application in Gauteng. Make certified copies of them. Then contact the Department of Human Settlements in both North West and Gauteng to ask if it would be possible to transfer the approval to Gauteng and how it would be done. Make sure that they know that the house you were approved for did not get built, and how many years you have been waiting for a house. Make sure that you get the names of the officials you talk to and make a note of dates.

These are the contact details for Human Settlements in both provinces:

North West Province: 

Tel:  018 388 5176

Address: 1st Floor West Wing, University Drive, Garona Building

Gauteng Province:

Tel: 011 355 4000. 

Email: GDHuSInfo@gauteng.gov.za

Address: 11 Diagonal Street, Marshalltown, 2107.

If nothing comes of this, you could contact the MEC of Housing in both provinces and ask them to intervene on your behalf. Each municipality has its own system for appeals, but each province’s MEC is allowed to review applications on a case-by-case basis. 

In North West, the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs is Oageng Molapisi. He is also the MEC responsible for housing. 

Tel: 018 388 4824

Address: NWDC Building, 1st Floor, corner of Provident and University Drive, Mmabatho. 

In Gauteng, the MEC for Human Settlements is Tasneem Motara. To reach her, email Vuyiswa Monye: Vuyiswa.Monye@gauteng.gov.za or GDHuSInfo@gauteng.gov.za

Wishing you the best,
Athalie