Tsutsumani residents fight for title deeds
Tsutsumani residents will have to wait a little longer for their title deeds as the Gauteng provincial government is still to transfer the land to the City of Johannesburg.
The residents of Tsutsumani in Alexandra gathered at Skeen Primary School to discuss the issue of title deeds in their community which they have been fighting for since 2010.
At the meeting, one community member Karel Monyapeo said they have been crying over the same issue since 2010.
“This fight for title deeds did not start now. We have been agitating for them since 2010 but all we’ve been getting are empty promises. We are ageing and anytime we may die hence we are worried about what will happen to our children then.
“If we happen to die, they are going to be kicked out of the houses as there are no papers confirming ownership. From today onwards all we want to hear is where do we fetch the title deeds. All we want is what belongs to us,” Monyapeo said.
Read more: 89-year-old Shabangu sobs upon receipt of title deed
Another community member David Makhoba said, “We only want papers confirming that we are the rightful owners of the houses as they told us that these houses have been fully paid for, and they are no longer owing.
“We once held a meeting in this very same venue and there were lawyers and officials from housing who explained that the houses have been fully paid for but even today as I speak to you, we have not received the title deeds.”
Read more: Importance of a title deed
Ward 105 councillor Tefo Raphadu said the issues is not unique to Tsutsumani but affects the entire Alexandra. He said it was a commitment that he made when he asked the community to elect him as the councillor and it is a commitment that he will see through to the bitter end.
“We have delivered the title deeds in Extension 7 and currently we are busy finalising those for Extension 2 and 8,” Raphadu said in his address at the meeting.
On the current situation regarding the title deeds for Tsutsumani, Raphadu said the City of Johannesburg was waiting for the government of the Gauteng province to transfer the land to the City.
“Once the transfer is done, the City will then commence with the issuing of title deeds but this is a process that can take a little longer than expected. I am committed to the finalisation of this matter as I promised you when you elected me councillor.”
Related article: City hands over 120 title deeds in Ward 105 in Alexandra
