Mabopane and Mamelodi residents celebrate long-awaited homeownership security
Beneficiaries expressed joy and relief, describing the long-overdue handover as life-changing, ending years of worry about the legal status of their homes.
The Tshwane metro, in partnership with the National Department of Human Settlements, has made strides in restoring home ownership security for residents in Mabopane and Mamelodi Ext 22.
A total of 172 title deeds were officially handed over to rightful owners as part of the nationwide Title Deeds Friday campaign.
The campaign, chaired by Minister of Human Settlements Thembisile Simelane, aims to address historical backlogs in title deed issuance, making sure that people who have waited for legal ownership of their homes for a long time can finally get their documents.
Among the beneficiaries, residents of Ext 22 in Mamelodi had been waiting for 25 years for their title deeds due to delays in finalising the township establishment.
The handover was led by Alderman Aaron Maluleka, MMC for Human Settlements, who highlighted the importance of regularising property ownership for the affected communities.
Maluleka noted that while the handover marks a milestone, thousands of title deeds remain uncollected.
“Some beneficiaries have illegally sold their properties, further complicating the process.
“Residents still waiting for their deeds must visit their regional municipal offices to follow up and ensure they receive their rightful documents,” he said.
The handover was met with joy and relief from beneficiaries, many of whom have endured years of uncertainty regarding their property ownership.
Resident Julia Ntshong expressed happiness at finally receiving her title deeds after decades of waiting.
“I am overjoyed. I can finally call this home mine in every sense,” she said.
Eunice Matjila, a pensioner, described the peace of mind the title deeds bring.
She recalled the sleepless nights she endured, worrying about the security of her home.
“Now I can rest easy, knowing that my home is legally mine,” she shared.
The Title Deeds Friday campaign will continue across the metro, crisscrossing various communities to ensure that as many beneficiaries as possible receive their legal documents.
The MMC also cautioned beneficiaries to safeguard their title deeds and avoid using them as collateral for loans, to prevent any legal complications that could arise from mismanagement of these critical documents.
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