Inxiweni residents continue to suffer without title deeds

As a result of the delays of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements in providing them with title deeds, the occupants of the Inxiweni RDP houses in Thembisa continue to experience housing instability.

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This is according to Mervyn Cirota, MPL and the DA Gauteng shadow MEC for Human Settlements.

“The rightful beneficiaries of Inxiweni RDP housing units were allocated to their houses in 2009 and to date, they have not yet been issued with title deeds,” said Cirota.

He added that this has severely affected the residents as they do not have any documents to use as evidence of proof of ownership of the housing units that they live in.

“This information was revealed to officials during an oversight inspection in the area. In some cases, the rightful beneficiaries have since died and left their children and grandchildren who are living in fear as they do not have proof that they or their spouse owns the property.”

He added that some residents claim that the previous Ekurhuleni government informed them that these housing units belong to the municipality, not the rightful beneficiaries.

“Delays in providing title deeds to these rightful recipients expose the system to corruption.

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“Some beneficiaries assert that they received new house numbers different from the ones when they were allotted these housing units,” said Cirota.

“The DA will be directly engaging with the Gauteng MEC of Human Settlements and Infrastructure, Lebohang Maile, to ascertain why the rightful beneficiaries of these housing units have not yet been issued with title deeds.

“The government needs to understand that every title deed delayed is dignity denied to the residents of this province. We will write to the public protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, to request her investigation into the matter.

“Title deeds play an integral part in redressing the injustices of the past and empowering families for generations to come,” said Cirota.

“We will continue to demand that Maile’s department must issue title deeds to these beneficiaries as they are being denied the security of tenure.”

The Thembisan sent a request for comment on the matter to the Department of Human Settlements on October 27 at 14:00, with a deadline for a response of November 2 at 09:00. At the time of going to press, no response had been received.

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