Today, 12 December, I have initiated a program that will ultimately see the City of Johannesburg’s housing rental stock being handed over to qualifying, rightful occupants.
The City of Johannesburg operates a substantial rental stock across the City, offering subsidised accommodation to families.
For years the City of Johannesburg has failed to repair and maintain its rental stock. In some instances, the City has been guilty of operating more as a Slum Lord than a caring City trying to address the housing backlog.
The move to handover title to these rental units will be aimed at those who have occupied the flats for a period of time that will be determined. This will see the long standing tenants of these flats becoming owners, in possession of title deeds, and with an asset to pass onto their children one day.
Having initiated the audit of all rental stock in the City of Johannesburg, to determine who is residing in these facilities, I am equally determined that only those who were the intended beneficiaries of the rental units may benefit from this program. This will mean that South African citizens will be targeted to benefit from these transfers of title.
The City of Johannesburg will embark upon a project to conduct the repairs and maintenance of the Council flats which are currently in poor condition. This must be done before we hand over title to these flats so that the beneficiaries receive the dignity to decent accommodation.
With the crisis of land and property ownership in our country, it is inconceivable that the City of Johannesburg would allow people to languish in poorly maintained flats as perpetual tenants.
The housing backlog in Johannesburg stands officially at 300 000 people. However, the housing market in Johannesburg produces a ‘missing middle’ – people unable to qualify for RDP housing as well as a private bond. For hundreds of thousands of families, their only option is affordable housing through subsidised rental.
The multi-party government wants to ensure that such families do not become permanent tenants of the City, and that they too can enjoy the benefits of home ownership.
I will be working with our Housing Department to formulate the criteria for this change in the City’s approach to its rental stock, and bringing a report to Council in 2019. With the support of Council, we will achieve this monumental change to housing in Johannesburg, incentivising those who currently rent that one day they too can own their own home.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Media Enquiries:
Luyanda Mfeka
Director: Mayoral Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Tel: 011 407 6727
Cellular: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za
