SAPA: Housing whistleblowers threatened

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Housing whistleblowers threatened

August 18 2010

Whistleblowers on corrupt housing deals are being threatened and murdered while they are in witness protection programmes, human settlements director general Thabane Zulu told MPs on Wednesday.

Zulu told the human settlements portfolio committee that investigations into corrupt housing deals were extremely dangerous, and witnesses were refusing to give evidence out of fear for their lives.

“Some people get threatened when protection has been provided,” Zulu said.

“Some get killed, even under witness protection. It is [a] life-threatening situation.

“It sends a very negative message because those who come forward get afraid.

“You find whistleblowers don’t want to show up and give names where they stay.”

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has promised to crack down on housing corruption, saying the department is focusing on housing syndicates and dodgy contractors.

He has said investigations are underway into syndicates selling and renting state-owned houses primarily in Gauteng, the North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

He said this week that a team appointed by the department to investigate fraud and corruption had recovered R44 million from provincial municipal officials since 2007. – Sapa