Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called on public servants, and representatives together with relevant institutions, to work around the clock to fast-track the processing and issuing of title deeds to the rightful beneficiaries, emphasizing that no title deeds should be kept in government offices.

Minister Kubayi was speaking at the inaugural Title Deeds Friday event where she was accompanied by Deputy Minister Pam Tshwete, Tshwane MMC for Human Settlements Ofentse Madzabatela and local councilors to hand over title deeds to some community members of MAWIGA who have been advocating since the early 90s to be recognized as rightful owners of approximately 14, 000 houses, scattered around Ga-Rankuwa, Mabopane, Kudube, and Winterveldt. She provided feedback to the community on the roll-out status, indicating that a phased approach has been adopted to avoid keeping communities waiting due to red tape and intergovernmental disputes.

“We have declared a war on the title deeds backlog and this is important particularly as the President has emphasized a need to get rid of red tape within the State. We are deliberately launching this campaign here in MAWIGA, to re-emphasise our message that as a government, we have heard the cries of this community and others who are yet to receive their title deeds. Every parent deserves to know that his or her children have a place to call home. These title deeds are legal documents that assure you these properties are yours,” said Minister Kubayi.

“Today you can be at peace that the houses you have lived in and raised your families over the years are yours and are valuable assets to hand over to future generations. This is also a testament that when the government partners with community members, nothing is impossible to achieve”, added Minister Kubayi.

The MAWIGA Ministerial Project was declared in 2022, with a committee established and tasked with the responsibility of facilitating the transfer of uncontested properties to the rightful owners. The handover of the first batch of title deeds took place as part of the launch of the Title Deeds Friday Campaign. The Tite Deeds Campaign is aimed at mobilizing beneficiaries of government-subsidized homes or Breaking New Grounds (BNGs) to collect their title deeds at municipality offices.

The Minister, echoed Deputy Minister Pamela Tshwete’s sentiments in commending the commitment demonstrated by the Petitions Group, which stayed on course over the years relentlessly representing affected community members, citing that “we are using MAWIGA to showcase the importance of working together with the community to resolve our challenges”.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr. Moota Mfulwane, said they are happy that finally, working together with the government, they made some breakthroughs. “Although some of those who were also waiting for this day have since unfortunately passed on, we are hoping as a community that the targeted handover of 14,000 title deeds will be realized,” said Mfulwane.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has undertaken to convene an urgent meeting with the municipalities to unlock existing bottlenecks. Interventions required, working with all three spheres, include the urgent establishment of townships to pave the way for the registration of title deeds. She made a clarion call to all councilors to champion the Title Deeds Friday Campaign by working with municipal officials to issue all title deeds on hand.

Media Enquiries: Contact Hlengiwe Nhlabathi-Mokota, Spokesperson to Minister Kubayi on 064 754 8426 /Hlengiwe.nhlabathi@dhs.gov.za or Nozipho Zulu, Head of Communications on 078 457 9376 / Nozipho.Zulu@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements