While millions of South Africans battle to find a place that they can call their own home, some seem to take RDP houses for granted and even let them out to foreigners to be used as spaza shops. This practice caused a lot of unhappiness in Mashau Village where a local resident apparently rent out his government-subsidized dwelling to an Ethiopian trader.

Several residents from Mashau village voiced their dissatisfaction this week with the conduct of Mr Vhangani Mudumela, who allegedly benefits from the arrangement with the Ethiopian businessman. The controversial house, which was turned into a spaza shop, was built around 2009. Mudumela used to stay in the house.

The Democratic Alliance's representative in Ward 9, Jonas Mugovhani, said it was simply wrong to turn an RDP house into a spaza shop while there were 13 family members sharing one hut in the same area. “There are a lot of villagers staying in dilapidated huts and who are supposed to benefit from RDP houses. It will be better if the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) can come and witness the abuse of RDP houses by the people,” said Mugovhani.

The spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Louis Bobodi, said they were not aware of the situation. He promised to send officers to investigate and said that the municipality would act after receiving such a report.

“There are a lot of people who deserve to get an RDP house, but they are still waiting. It is illegal to turn an RDP house into a spaza shop while there are a lot of citizens who don’t have a place they can call ‘home’,” he said.

“Access to housing and secure accommodation is an integral part of government’s commitment to reduce poverty and improve the quality of people’s lives. The RDP endorses the principle that all South Africans have a right to a secure place in which to live in peace and dignity. Housing is a basic human right. One of the RDP's first priorities is to provide for the homeless,” said Bobodi.

All attempts to find the owner of the RDP house, Mudumela, were fruitless and the Ethiopian businessman also remained tight-lipped.