Title deeds handed to new homeowners
The houses may not be sold for the next five years.
MORE than hundred Hibiscus Coast Municipality residents became legal owners of property when the MEC of Human Settlements, Ravi Pillay, officially handed over 112 title deeds to qualifying beneficiaries at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre on Tuesday.
“The municipality has responded to a call by the department of human settlements, that 663 properties should be officially handed over to qualifying beneficiaries. These properties are in Gamalakhe, Palmview, Marburg and Merlewood,” said HCM mayor Cynthia Mqwebu.
She added that to date the municipality has transferred 373 properties – 87 houses in Gamalakhe, 41 in Merlewood, 140 in Marburg and 105 in Palmview.
“To ensure that the deserving beneficiaries do get their title deeds, the municipality has intervened in the situation where the occupants were in arrears on rates and other municipal services, since this was a stumbling block when transferring properties,” revealed the mayor.
She explained that council had to apply to the provincial department of human settlements for the millions owed in rates to be written off.
MEC Ravi Pillay warned all those receiving the title deeds to take care of their houses. “This is a very special occasion because a house is a great investment as it will be worth much more in a few years to come,” he said.
He also warned them that they are not allowed to sell the houses for the next five years. “This is to protect your own interests,” he emphasised.
