Wolmer residents demand resolution of decades-long title deed delays

For more than three decades, residents of Wolmer in the north of Pretoria have been caught in a seemingly endless wait for their title deeds.

Built between 1986 and 1993 by the former Transvaal Provincial Administration as rental homes for low-income earners, the houses were meant to provide stable accommodation to those in need.

But despite years of compliance, paperwork, surveys, and persistent hope, many families still do not legally own the homes they have lived in and cared for.

“I have lived here since 1990. My parents passed on without ever receiving their title deed.

“Now I have no legal proof that this is my home. How can I build a future or even improve my house if I don’t officially own it?” said Deon van Rooyen.

The frustration in Wolmer is palpable as residents voice their growing anger over the ongoing delays that deny them legal ownership and all the rights and security that come with it.

The history of the Wolmer house project is complex.

The area comprises 210 rental houses across Old Wolmer and Wolmer, originally managed by the former National Housing Board.

The properties were transferred to the Tshwane metro in phases starting in 2001, but many units remained registered under provincial or national departments due to administrative hurdles.

According to the metro’s human settlements department, the process of registering title deeds only began in earnest in 2012, but was stalled due to various challenges.

Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the process was revived in late 2021, with a three-phase plan, which includes tenant verification, identification of beneficiaries, and addressing those not covered by council resolutions.

Despite these efforts, progress has been slow.

Mashigo confirmed that 44 households still await registration and title deed issuance.

He said the Department of Human Settlements, which is responsible for title registrations, has struggled with incomplete archives and legal complexities around property subdivisions and ownership qualification.

According to him, the conveyancers appointed to complete the registrations have also faced obstacles such as missing proclamation notices and unclear ownership transfers.

Ward 2 Councillor Quentin Meyer expressed the community’s deep frustration and disappointment over the issue that has lingered for more than 30 years.

“Residents have submitted documents multiple times, participated in surveys, signed all the paperwork, yet no action follows.

“Many residents have passed on without ever receiving ownership. Those still here live in uncertainty, unable to invest in their homes or pass them down legally.”

Meyer highlighted the critical importance of title deeds, explaining how they grant legal security, enable families to build generational wealth, open access to home loans, and affirm residents’ dignity and rights.

“It is Wolmer’s time now. We are not asking for special treatment, only the same recognition other communities have received. We have waited long enough.”

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Mashigo acknowledged the complexity of the registration process and the external factors affecting progress.

“The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements remains the custodian of title deed registrations, and the metro depends on the province to finalise subdivision processes and complete registrations at the Registrar of Deeds.

“Regular audits and tenant verifications are conducted to keep records current, with the most recent audit completed last month,” he said.

The metro has not provided a specific timeline or rollout plan for Wolmer.

Mashigo said some of the administrative obstacles delaying title deed issuance involve outstanding subdivisions of the stands, qualification processes for housing subsidies, legal challenges in transferring properties still registered under provincial or national departments and missing documents in national archives.

The metro emphasised that succession laws will apply to protect the heirs of deceased residents and advised community members to draft wills to ensure smooth ownership transfers.

Lenise Venter said a title deed is more than just a piece of paper.

“This is about security for my children, about feeling recognised and respected by the city we call home.”

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