The community hall at Khunjuliwe Secondary School in Ext 8 was where long-awaited title deeds were handed over to low-cost-housing beneficiaries on Friday, 19 March.
Home owners waited in the hall for the arrival of the MEC of the Department of Human Settlements, Mr Speedy Mashilo, and the mayor of the Lekwa Municipality, Mr Linda Dhlamini.
The title deeds amounted to 500, but only 100 could be given to avoid overcrowding and adhering to Covid-19 regulations.
The ceremony was part of government’s intervention to fast-track the delivery of title deeds across the province, ensuring owners of their security of tenure and dignity as official home owners.
“We are confident that the legal document will help to assure all beneficiaries of their ownership and not to fall victim to unscrupulous people who may want to defraud them,” Mr Dhlamini said.
One of the beneficiaries, the 75-year-old Mr Joseph Spotini Kubheka, expressed his joy and thanked both the department and municipality for finally making their dreams a reality.
Mr Mashilo said the other title deeds will remain with the municipality to give to the remaining beneficiaries.
Both the officials went on to visit a few houses, handing over some deeds personally as part of public participation engagement with the community.
The aim was also to address some of the underlying issues pertaining to service delivery in the area.
According to Mr Rosier de Ville, caucus leader of the DA, a meeting between Mr Mashilo and the troika, consisting of the ANC, SACP and Cosatu, took place earlier.
“The council was not invited, meaning no opposition party was present,” he also said.
“It is unacceptable.”
Mr De Ville added that he is thankful that the beneficiaries could receive their title deeds.
