A former Gauteng councillor has been arrested for charging people R57 to apply for an RDP house — a service that should cost the applicant nothing, provincial authorities said on Monday.

"It is alleged that the former councillor has been charging RDP [Reconstruction and Development Programme] home seekers a R57 administration fee before allocating stands," the Gauteng local government and housing department said in a statement.

"In a joint sting operation between the department's... anti–fraud unit and the National Crime Intelligence, a former councillor was arrested in Ivory Park on Sunday for allegedly soliciting a bribe."

The councillor will appear in court on Monday.

"The arrest of the suspect happened after a complainant came to the Department’s Customer Support Centre requesting to be issued a C-Form (a receipt received after applying for RDP house) after he allegedly paid R57 to the suspect to be allocated a stand. "

A case of fraud was opened.

"The department [would] like to reiterate the fact that a C-Form is not for sale neither is the allocation of a stand."

Local government and housing MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro warned corrupt officials that their criminal activities would not be tolerated.

"This arrest will send out a strong message to all those who anticipate carrying out corrupt tendencies. We will show no mercy for corruption.

"These are the people who derail the progress of service delivery," said Lekgoro.

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