Tshwane mayor hands out title deed to church
Tshwane mayor continues to hand out title deed to different churches around Pretoria.
The African Church in Ga-Rankuwa recently received a title deed from the Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
According to the mayor, the handover of title deeds to churches forms part of the city’s land redistribution programme.
Speaking during the handover of the title deed in Ga-Rankuwa, Ramogopa said the Tshwane metro has delivered a number of title deeds to churches across Pretoria under the intervention of Re Aga Tshwane, which means ‘we are building Tshwane’.
“The programme is aimed at remodelling the housing landscape of the metro towards advancing the restoration of dignity for the poorest and most socially vulnerable groups,” he said.
“This is done by proclaiming townships and transferring the ownership of stands to respective beneficiaries and organisations,” said Ramokgopa.
The programme formed part of a campaign from 2014 to give 158 local churches title deeds.
Tshwane mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale told Rekord that in 2012 the metro resolved to forge a closer relationship with faith-based organisations.
“This was demonstrated by our land donations policy that commenced in 2013 to mark the anniversary of the 1913 Natives Land Act,” said Manale.
“This resolution was driven in part by a realisation that churches, as the key drivers of moral regeneration in society, are an essential part of nation building and social cohesion,” he said.
Manale said the metro had transferred a significant amount of land by way of donation.
“Over 148 land parcels have been transferred to churches and the taxi industry as well as converting leasehold to full title for over 50 black township business people in Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Marabastad,” he said.
Places of worship were now able to invest in the construction or extension of their property to properly serve their congregations.
“This programme will continue in Soshanguve, Mabopane and Hammanskraal in the coming months. The land donated to churches holds a municipal value in excess of R60 million,” said Manale.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
- We have exciting news! We’re offering a free alert to help you always be in the loop. Send an email with the word ‘Subscribe’ to breakingnews@rekord.co.za to receive your free daily breaking news update.
