I was very happy to assist 22 residents in Velddrif (12), Louwville (5) in Vredenburg and Diazville (5) in Saldanha Bay in becoming fully-fledged and legal homeowners, when I handed over their title deeds over the last few days, while also ensuring that 5 Riebeek-Kasteel residents received their enhanced serviced site.
While visiting the West Coast District to engage municipalities about the Western Cape Human Settlements budget and their allocations for the 2021/22 financial year, it brought me great joy to have the opportunity to empower our people in this manner.
The enhanced serviced sites in Riebeek-Kasteel, which were handed over to the elderly, demonstrates our prioritisation of the most vulnerable and those longest on the housing demand database.
These handovers speak directly to one of our key pillars, which is to empower our people through ownership. This is very important to us as we seek to address the injustices of the past.
One of the title deed recipients in Velddrif, 70-year old Ms Lena le Fleur, who is the first individual in her family to ever own a house, said: “I am so happy that I am finally the owner of my own house. I’ve prayed to have a place of my own for a very long time and I’m grateful to God and all who made it possible.”
In Louwville Vredenburg, 91-year old Mrs Hester Kooste who along with her husband waited for more than 50 years to become the rightful and legal owners of their property, said: “I am happy and grateful that God has spared us thus far and that we now have our title deed in our hands. I’ve always wondered when this moment will come, as it’s been so long. This is a proud moment for us, as this is our house, our property and no one can take it away from us.”
Despite the National Government stopping the Title Deed Restoration Grant (TDRG), we will continue to hand over title deeds. We cannot sit back and watch our people being denied such an important tool to achieve dignity and opportunity.
We remain committed to establishing an enabling environment, so that we are better placed to grant beneficiaries security of tenure, i.e. make more residents, legal homeowners by handing over these title deeds.
Marcellino Martin
Spokesperson for Minister Tertius Simmers
Marcellino.Martin@westerncape.gov.za
021 483 9483 (o)
082 721 3362 (m)
Or
Nathan Adriaanse
Director Communication & Stakeholder Relations
Tell: 021 483 2868
Mobile: 083 2631720
Email: Nathan.Adriaanse@westerncape.gov.za