Dignity restored to over 700 households
Over 700 government low income subsidy beneficiaries will now able to leverage their economic circumstances by making additional income. These came when the Department of Human Settlements MEC, Violet Siwela handed over more than 700 title deeds at Emzinoni, Govan Mbeki and Msukaligwa Local Municipalities at the Gert Sibande District in a two day event which took place recently. The department plans to deliver 10 000 title deeds this financial year.
A 67 year old pensioner, Maria Skhosana who lives with her grandson was amongst the excited and overwhelming beneficiaries that received title deeds. “You have come in our rescue MEC like Nelson Mandela, thank you for walking in his footsteps. Please carry on the good work to other people who are less privilege like me.” Said Skhosana who arrived in Mzinoni in 1993 after her house was demolished by a bulldozer before Nelson Mandela inaugurated as the first black president in South Africa.
Issuing of title deeds is one of the key parts in the Department of Human Settlements as it ensures security of tenure to all housing beneficiaries. “In the previous regime, people did not have full security of tenure to their properties or houses but the current government want to restore dignity of you the people,” said MEC Siwela addressing the beneficiaries. A Title Deed is a legal document that reflects the ownership of a property, therefore extremely important as it allows home owners to make decisions that will improve their
living circumstances and also offers a sense of pride and of belonging to beneficiaries in their communities.
Accordingly, title deeds are very critical to ensure not only security of tenure, but also the households can use their houses as an asset to build wealth. This service ensures provision of security of tenure for housing beneficiaries, ensure the lives of beneficiaries is continuously and economically improved through guarantees with the title deeds and satisfy the provision of legislation to provide title deeds to beneficiaries. More than 5000 Title Deeds were issued in the 2013/14 financial year.
The department together with other sector Departments (Water Affairs and Sanitation and Cooperative Affairs and Traditional Affairs) are hard at work to ensure that basic services such as water, sanitation, refuse removal and electricity are delivered accordingly to the people. MEC Siwela urged the beneficiaries to safeguard their Title Deeds and use them to improve their livelihood.
Enquiries:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: 013 766 6014
Cell: 082 859 4630
