Dept to rectify title deeds of 37 homeowners after wrongful properties transferred in Mamelodi

The Gauteng Human Settlements department will rectify the 37 title deeds issued wrongfully to homeowners in Nellmapius.

The department will appoint a new panel of attorneys to complete the job.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said in 2021 a Tshwane metro and Gauteng government drive to provide security of tenure to the homeowners registered 37 properties in Nellmapius Ext 1 (Proper) to the wrong people.

Mashigo said the attorney would first need to collect title deeds issued wrongly because they are required for lodgement.

He said the beneficiaries had been waiting for three decades for the title deeds.

According to him, more homeowners in Nellmapius Proper and Nellmapius Ext 1 still needed to be issued their title deeds.

He said the error was that title deeds issued for homes in Nellmapius Ext 1 had addresses for the homes in Nellmapius Proper.

“The properties that were targeted were found to be located in Nellmapius Proper instead of Nellmapius Ext 1. As such, wrong properties were transferred,” said Mashigo.

Recently 37 families who moved from Eersterust to Nellmapius in 1994 complained that they had lived there for 30 years without their title deeds.

One of them, Willeminah Jafta, claimed 162 families were the first citizens of Nellmapius but today 37 families are still waiting for their title deeds.

Jafta said they have been in contact with Tshwane House and Mini Munitoria in Mamelodi over the years but were yet to receive their title deeds.

She said they communicated with them via emails, personal visits, and phone calls.

“We were told that the title deeds are still coming and they are waiting for the authorities above.”

Mashigo said the metro had started collecting the wrongfully issued title deeds from homeowners in July of this year.

“The attorneys are in the process of drafting the Rectification Agreements, which will be signed by the affected beneficiaries.

“Where the approved beneficiaries are deceased, the heirs must obtain nomination (letter of authority/executorship) from the office of the Master,” he added.

“It is anticipated that this process, which includes the signing of the rectification agreements, lodgement, and issuance of rectified titles, will be concluded within three months.

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The previous councillor is the one who took his time and went up and down with us and managed to help a few of us get our title deeds,” Jafta said.

“We have many challenges in Nellmapius Ext 1 and abnormal bills for water and electricity, and residents received a final letter of demand, but they [the elderly] can’t make payment arrangements, and families who bought houses and extended them can’t get the title deeds.”

Another resident Berend Cloete said he bought a house in 1999 from the original owner and had been applying for a title deed since 2006.

He said he has tons of emails tracing back to 2009 trying to find out what is happening with his title deed.

Cloete said some of the owners had passed on, and their heirs –children and grandchildren – can’t get a title deed.

“We submitted everything they requested from us, but nothing is happening.”

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