Mnquma Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa, handed over more than 600 title deeds to homeowners from Centane 1 038 RDP Housing Project on September 13.
Manxila-Nkamisa was accompanied by the municipality’s budget and treasury portfolio head, Luxolo Mgandela, community services portfolio head, Zola Layiti and Ward 30 Councillor, Pumla Ndabambi, during the handover.
Elated homeowners said they had been waiting for this day for years and were relieved at finally receiving proof of ownership for their houses.
“This title deed will change my life because I stayed in my house with fear that someone may come and lay claim to it but now that the municipality has given me a title deed it means I have documented proof of ownership,” said resident and title deed recipient, Novoti Mshenxisi.
“I was worried, due to my advanced age and ill health, that I may die without a title deed for my house and the thought of dying without proof of ownership and someone chasing my family away from my house frightened me.
“I am happy now that the title deed has been handed to me which means that even if I die, my children will take over ownership of the house,” added another recipient Nkomponi Jejana.
Manxila-Nkamisa said the title deeds handover opens several opportunities for the recipients.
“Title deed recipients will now be able to apply to the municipality to make extensions and alterations to their houses, something that was not possible without a title deed. Residents will also be able to use their houses as surety when applying for things such as bursaries for their children at financial institutions because they now have proof of ownership for their houses,” she said.
She said more title deeds will be handed over in the near future until all 1 038 house owners have proof of ownership.
