National Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Zou Kota-Fredericks says South Africans must stop selling the houses given to them by government.
Speaking in Khayelitsha on Tuesday April 23, during a visit with Minister of Human Settlements Nomaindia Mfeketo, to hand over 192 title deeds, Ms Kota-Fredericks said people need to understand that the houses belong to them as well as future generations.
Ms Mfeketo is taking the Department of Human Settlements Outreach Programme to the Western and Eastern Cape this week and next week.
According to her department, this ongoing outreach programme started in November last year.
The programme is a result of a decision by ministers and MECs in October 2018 to intensify the community outreach programmes, human settlements imbizos and consumer education sessions in all the provinces to focus on priority projects since 2014, especially title deeds restoration.
The minister was not happy about people selling their houses and warned that their children’s future would be bleak Ms Zou Kota-Fredericks said the government is doing all it can to give people back their dignity but people are not helping the government.
“Your houses should be a family home. You must stop it (selling of houses). You must also stop taking your title deeds to mashonisas (credit providers). If you keep on selling houses, it looks like we are doing nothing as government.”
Close to 200 title deeds were handed over to homeowners by Ms Mfeketo. The beneficiaries were predominantly elderly people in wards 92 and 94.
She said 1 000 title deeds were suppose to be handed out but could not due to challenges. She promised that there would be more title deed handovers in other areas of the city.
Councillors of ward 92 and 94, Xoliswa Peter and Patrick Mngxunyeni, also urged residents to not sell their houses. They said residents could make arrangements with the municipality when they faced problems with title deeds.
Mr Mngxutyeni said there are many title deeds lying at the municipality offices but some people have been hard to find.
One of the residents who received a title deed, Mathozana Jama, 73, said she had waited a very long time to own a house. However, she was excited to finally have her title deed. “This is something to celebrate. I am not selling my house because I have children and grandchildren. My dignity has been restored today,” she said.