The ANC in the Frances Baard region in Kimberley takes seriously allegations of bribes being paid in exchange for houses, the party said on Wednesday.

“We hold a strong view that the provision of housing, water, electricity and other basic amenities to our communities is our revolutionary duty,” African National Congress spokesman Ali Diteme said in a statement.

“We also hold a strong view that the elected public representatives and government officials have got a responsibility to ensure that the deserving beneficiaries are prioritised when houses get allocated to the communities.”

Diteme said the allegations that people were paying bribes for houses in Leratong Park were reported in the Diamond Fields Advertiser.

He said the ANC was commissioning its own investigation into the allegations.

The ANC in the region believed that the “first come, first served” principle had to apply, and that people could not by-pass the beneficiaries list.

Diteme called on community leaders to exercise restraint and caution.

“(They must) provide leadership and rise above petty squabbles, when dealing with sensitive and emotional matters such as housing.

“… We will deploy our team to work hand-in-hand with all the stakeholders, including the team from the municipality and the provincial government to quell the situation and address the problems of Leratong Park once and for all,” he said. – Sapa