South Africa

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Public Awareness Notice — Active

Fraud and corruption have no
place in human settlements.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements holds a zero-tolerance position on fraud and corruption. Housing, subsidies, sites, and jobs are never sold. Learn how scams involving the Department's name operate — and where to report them.

Official KZN DHS Zero Tolerance

Fraudsters will face the full consequences of the law. Criminals have used the Department's name, logo, and the details of officials not employed by the Department to defraud housing applicants, suppliers, and contractors. Any payment made to such individuals falls outside the Department's liability — which is exactly why recognising a scam matters as much as reporting one.

Know the warning signs

Most housing scams share the same handful of tactics. If you notice any of the following, treat it as a red flag.

01 — PAYMENT REQUEST

Any request for money to "secure" a house, site, or place on a waiting list

Subsidised housing, serviced sites, and waiting-list registration are always free. No fee, deposit, or "processing charge" is ever required.

02 — LOOK-ALIKE DOCUMENTS

Letters, forms, or order numbers carrying the Department's logo but unfamiliar contacts

Fraudsters frequently copy the Department's official branding onto fake correspondence aimed at housing suppliers and contractors.

03 — JOBS FOR SALE

Offers of construction, EPWP, or housing-project jobs in exchange for payment

The Department never sells job placements. If a "job" has a price tag attached, walk away.

04 — UNOFFICIAL CHANNELS

Requests to send your ID copy, banking details, or documents to a personal number or private email

Official Department communication uses @kzndhs.gov.za addresses and published departmental numbers only.

05 — PRESSURE AND URGENCY

Claims that a site, subsidy, or title deed will be lost unless you act "today"

Genuine housing processes run on municipal timelines. Urgency is a pressure tactic, not a departmental practice.

Report it

Seen something suspicious? Tell us.

Anti-Corruption Hotline
Anti-Fraud Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Head Office 203 Church St, Pietermaritzburg
Switchboard (033) 392 6400
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Reports may be made confidentially. Include dates, names or numbers used, and any documents or messages you received.

Read the Department's Risk Appetite Statement (2025/26) →

Verify before you pay — or apply

A quick comparison of what the real Department does, against what a scam looks like.

● The real KZN DHS
  • Applications for subsidised housing, serviced sites, and waiting lists cost nothing
  • Correspondence comes from an @kzndhs.gov.za address or a published departmental number
  • Suppliers and contractors deal only through verified order numbers, confirmed directly with the Department
  • Goods are delivered only to the Department's own offices
  • Job opportunities are advertised officially and never sold
● A housing scam
  • Asks for an upfront "registration," "processing," or "placement" fee
  • Uses the Department's logo, but a personal cellphone number or private email
  • Requests ID copies or banking details outside any official process
  • Pressures suppliers to deliver goods to an address that isn't a Department office
  • Promises a job, house, or site in return for payment