On 1st February 2018 Executive Mayor – Patricia de Lille visited Wallacedene where the City of Cape Town handed over title deeds to residents living in the area.
I was joined by Councillor Suzette Little, Mayoral Committee Member for Area North, and City staff to celebrate this important milestone with residents.
Handing over ownership of property which residents have occupied for many years is very important and special to me.
It is more than just a piece of paper. It is a symbol of victory over the imbalances of our unjust past.
The transfer of ownership and handing over of title deeds is in line with the City’s commitment to redressing the imbalances of apartheid where people were denied ownership of property.
Among the recipients I met today were Enoch and Lulama Mdebuka, and Dina Afrikaner who have been living in their homes in Wallacedene since the mid-1990s and early 2000s. I visited them at their homes after the title deed ceremony where they expressed a great sense of relief and gratitude as they finally held the proof of ownership for their homes in their hands.
In the 2016/17 financial year, the City handed 1 182 title deeds to residents in historical housing projects and 760 title deeds to residents living in Council saleable rental stock.
Since then the City has ramped up its delivery of handing over title deeds. Since June 2017 the City has handed out 1 957 title deeds in areas across Cape Town.
This is a continuation of the work we started during the 2011 – 2016 term of office when more than 11 000 title deeds were issued to residents.
The City’s work in this important redress project ensures that residents are confirmed as the rightful property owners.
We will continue this work to finalise title deeds in all areas across the City and will host roadshows from Bloekombos to Hout Bay until April 2018 to ensure that residents can collect or check the status of their title deed finalisation.
The City remains committed to delivering on our commitment to bring fairness and to redress the imbalances the past. Together we are making progress possible and building a more inclusive Cape Town.