Cape Town aims to fast-track the transfer of township title deeds

The City of Cape Town plans to speed up the transfer of residential erven to thousands of beneficiaries in townships across the Cape Metropole.

A study commissioned by the City's Housing Directorate found that 58% of the title deeds had been handed over to pre-approved beneficiaries of certain housing projects, which had been completed more than ten years ago.

The survey was done on nine historic housing projects namely in Tambo Square 2, Old Wallacedene Phase 10, Nyanga, Mfuleni 3 & 4, Bloekombos Phase 2, Masiphumelele, Lwandle, Nomzamo and Pumlani.

Of the 12 631 erven surveyed, 7 375 transfers had been registered, while 5 256 transfers were still outstanding.

About 90% of the outstanding transfers relate to three specific projects. The reasons for the non-transfer of erven in respect of these projects will be addressed by the City. Many of the erven were still registered in the name of the City or the Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

"The main problems are due to the delays in registering General Plans and opening township registers in respect of the listed developments," says Councillor Shehaam Sims, Mayoral Committee Member for Housing.

"Such delays are not unique to the City of Cape Town and are occurring across South Africa and the problem needs to be addressed urgently by all municipalities and provinces.

"The non-transfer of houses and erven to beneficiaries has an extremely negative impact on the community and the longer this matter remains unresolved, the more difficult it will become to remedy the situation," she says.

The Western Cape Government has also embarked on a similar study, and will be co-operating with the City to address common problems.

"Some title deeds cannot be issued because the beneficiaries are not contactable, while others have ‘sold' the properties, or passed away," says Sims.

The City will now consider several steps to speed up the issuing of the relevant title deeds. These include the registration of all outstanding General Plans, and getting housing project managers to monitor the progress of projects rolled out by contracted developers.

Statement issued by the Communication Department, City of Cape Town, October 12 2010

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