Only 58% of the title deeds for houses built by the Cape Town council more than 10 years ago have been handed over the owners and now the city is trying to speed up this process.
This emerged after the council’s housing directorate conducted a survey of housing projects completed at Tambo Square, Old Wallacedene, Nyanga, Mfuleni, Bloekombos, Masiphumelele, Lwandle, Nomzam and Pumlani.
Of the 12 631 plots surveyed, 7 375 transfers had been registered while 5 256 were still outstanding. According to the survey about 90% of the outstanding transfers related to three specific projects. Apparently the title deeds are still registered in the name of the city or the provincial government.
According to Councillor Shehaam Sims, the main problems arise from delays in registering the plans and opening the township registers.
“Such delays are not unique to Cape Town and similar problems are occurring in cities throughout South Africa. This problem needs to urgently be addressed by all municipalities and provincial authorities,” says Sims.
“The non-transfer of homes and land to beneficiaries has an extremely negative impact on the community and the longer this matter remains unresolved, the more difficult it will be to remedy it,” she says.
Apparently some title deeds cannot be issued because the council has been unable to contact the registered beneficiaries or because the properties have been sold or, in some cases, the beneficiary has died.
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