The short answer
Unless you inherited his house, it shouldn't disqualify you from owning your own RDP house.
The whole question
Dear Athalie
I applied for an RDP house in 2002. When I went to the housing department to make an enquiry, I was told that I do not qualify because my late grandfather had received a house, which my uncle owns now. I have been renting an RDP house from another family since 2015 but they don't pay for municipal services. The utility bills are piling up and there is nothing I can do about it. I don't understand why I can't get my own house.
The long answer
You say that the housing department told you that you don’t qualify for an RDP house because of your late grandfather’s house, which your uncle now owns.
I am not sure why your grandfather’s house should disqualify you from owning an RDP house in your own right. Unless it is that you inherited his house? One of the qualifications for an RDP house is that you should be a first-time homeowner and a first-time recipient of a government subsidy house. In other words, if you have already owned a house before, or have received an RDP house before, you will not qualify.
If this is not the case, I cannot see why you should not qualify for an RDP house, if you earn less than R3,500 a month, or if you have a partner, that your combined income is not more than R3,500 a month.
If this does not answer the question, you could contact the Housing Enquiries of the Department of Human Settlements at the toll-free customer service hotline and ask them why you do not qualify. You can contact them at: 0800 146 873 / 012 421 1915
Wishing you the best,
Athalie
Answered on June 4, 2021, 2:54 p.m.
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