MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATT: REPORTERS, ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
30 April 2019
MEC DELIVERS ON TITLE DEEDS
East London——– When he came into office in November 2018, EC Human Settlements MEC, Babalo Madikizela made a promise to try and eliminate the frustrating process of title deed handovers to beneficiaries and meet Departmental targets. The Department has reached the 3000 title deeds target to rightful beneficiaries.
Issuing of title deeds is one of the Department’s priorities which places emphasis on restoring South African citizens’ dignity by building for them sustainable houses. The Title Deeds Restoration Project was initiated to deal with the backlog and thus ensuring access to adequate housing and full home-ownership. For a number of years the issuing of title deeds has been moving at an unacceptable pace due to a number of challenges such as untraceable beneficiaries, misallocation of title deeds, illegal occupation, selling of houses and deceased beneficiaries.
A title deed is an important legal document ensuring not only security of tenure, but also that poor households can use their house as an asset to build wealth. It also consists of preemptive rights that protect the owner from breaches like building obstructions and encroachment because these can affect the value of the property.
Issued by Ministry of Human Settlements (Eastern Cape)
Enquiries: Cell: 064 880 8746
Simthandile Ford
Facebook: EC Human Settlements News Channel