WATCH: Mayor, MMC hand over 196 title deeds in South Hills
By handing over the title deeds, the Department of Human Settlements affirmed its role as a trusted partner in the journey to homeownership.
It was a bitter-sweet moment for some title deed recipients in South Hills on December 6.
When the first recipient was called, pensioner Cowden Ncube, on a walker, danced to the podium and confessed it was a pity he had received his title deed after his wife had already passed on. It was mentioned that an 82-year-old could not attend because she was no longer alive.
Throughout that doom and gloom, Mayor Dada Morero and the MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, were upbeat and determined to celebrate this milestone with the people of South Hills. Other dignitaries attending were Ward 57 Clr Faeeza Chame, Ward 65 Clr Nkosikhona Khanyile and Clr Strike Rambani.
When welcoming the guests, Chame said it was a pity one recipient had died before receiving her title deed.
“It is sad, but we are here now. The city is giving you these title deeds now because it doesn’t want to give them to you when you are 90 and won’t get a loan from a bank.
“Another disturbing issue is that some people wait this long for their title deeds, but when they get them, they sell or rent them out. Please do not do that. These title deeds are yours,” she said.
Mabaso said they must appreciate that the government is giving them the ownership of their homes.
“We have the responsibility to give dignity to the people—that is our mandate. We can’t allow people to live in squalor. In Johannesburg, we have a backlog in giving out houses. Townships built without infrastructure are one of the hindrances in giving out title deeds.
“This is my third time giving out title deeds, and there are regulations we need to relax like people who applied in 1998 must be given the title deeds because they already live in those houses.
@southern.courier Throughout that doom and gloom, Mayor Dada Morero and the MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, were upbeat and determined to celebrate this milestone with the people of South Hills. Other dignitaries attending were Ward 57 Clr Faeeza Chame, Ward 65 Clr Nkosikhona Khanyile and Clr Strike Rambani.
“We congratulate you. Please don’t sell these houses, and remember, title deeds are not given to tenants, only the original owner. Protect your house because your children still need a roof over their heads. Protect these documents,” he said.
Mayor Morero said the government started giving ownership to the people in 1996.
@southern.courier Mayor Morero said the government started giving ownership to the people in 1996. “Some people have waited for their title deeds for 30 years. I’m sure you are amazed this has happened. People would often say the government lies and only promises. Let’s be proud of our government. The most important thing is for us to give you these documents so you can sleep peacefully. After this, we all have a right to celebrate as much as we can,” he noted.
“Some people have waited for their title deeds for 30 years. I’m sure you are amazed this has happened. People would often say the government lies and only promises. Let’s be proud of our government. The most important thing is for us to give you these documents so you can sleep peacefully. After this, we all have a right to celebrate as much as we can,” he noted.
