In a space of three weeks the MMC for Housing in the City of Johannesburg, Mlungisi Mabaso will be handing over more than 1 000 title deeds to rightful owners who are mostly based on the West Rand in the Sol Plaatje area.
Reportedly, they will start handing over the documents in the following week.
According to Mabaso, the process starts after a community member has been allocated a unit. A lot of things need to be done, such as the construction of roads that would need the approval of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
“Some people have been allocated units over 10 years ago, and have not been given ownership of those houses.
“We have engaged with the Development and Planning Department and JRA, and they have said that they are still in the process of finalising the township and face challenges such family conflicts over the estate of the deceased,” explained Mabaso.
Mabaso revealed to the Record that one of their biggest challenges comes when the owner of a house is deceased and there is no will to assist with what has now become a family dispute.
Criminal elements also delay and disrupt the processes as some houses have been sold by their owners who later go back to their homes in other provinces.
When asked who qualifies for the title deeds, Mabaso responded by saying that the people who qualify for the houses are those who have been rightfully allocated the houses by the government.
The MMC sent a strong message to those who are attempting to manipulate the system, and encouraged communities to assist in every way.
“We are dealing with those trying to manipulate the system, and we encourage the community to assist when these individuals attempt to rob our people of their rights to housing.
“We rely solely on the community to provide us with the information so that we are able to open criminal cases and investigate corruption,” said Mabaso.
