Since occupying his new house in 2015, Frank Mkhwanazi has not had security of tenure, until today, April 11 2018.Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba handed over the title deeds to Mkhwanazi and 249 other beneficiaries from Kanana Ext 1, 2 and 7 and Thula Mntwana, thus confirming them as the rightful owners of government- built houses.
In addition to being deaf and mute, 49 year-old Mkhwanazi from Thula Mntwana in Ennerdale is also blind in one eye after being struck by a stroke in 2014. He survives on a disability grant but in 2015, he became a proud home owner, except he didn’t have the title deeds for it.
His sister, Dorah Mkhwanazi, thanked Mayor Mashaba today, after he personally handed over his much-prized title deed for his two-bedroomed RDP home.
“We’re grateful as a family that the City has given our brother the title deeds, although the house’s workmanship has left a lot to be desired. The ceiling caved in as a result of a leaking roof and the solar geyser also leaks,” said Dorah Mkhwanazi.
Mayor Mashaba urged the happy recipients to take care of their title deeds and keep them safe.
“Title deeds are important as they provide individuals with an address, recognise the owner and their family as part of the municipality and enable ownership of the property to pass on to family members in the event of death. Home ownership empowers our residents by giving them and their families the dignity of a place to call home,” said Mayor Mashaba.
The mayor said the delivery of title deeds was one of the ways in which the City’s multi-party government continues to prioritise improving the lives of Joburg residents
“It is our responsibility as government to always put residents first,” said Mayor Mashaba.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing Cllr Mzobanzi Ntuli told residents at the Finetown Multipurpose Centre that the City was accelerating the title deed process by fast-tracking the distribution of serviced sites.
Section 79 Housing Chairperson Cllr Suzan Clarke said a total of 730 title deeds were expected to be handed over in the next two weeks in some of the City’s seven regions. She added that it was a long process as a result of the strict verification that needed to be conducted before the City can handover title deeds to residents.
The City has handed over more than 2 130 title deeds since the new administration took over after the August 2016 local government elections. The City handed over 349 title deeds in Pennyville in February 2018.
Once residents have benefited from the government through a housing subsidy, they will not be able to qualify for another subsidy. New title holders were urged not to sell their properties and encouraged to draw up wills to avoid family squabbles when titleholders passed on.
