100 Nomzamo residents are the latest beneficiaries of Khaya Lam Project

ON JUNE 20, 100 registered residents in the Nomzamo, Strand municipal area received full freehold titles to their homes, sponsored by Dr Christo Wiese, at a Khaya Lam (My Home) Land Reform Project ceremony hosted by Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille.

Accompanied by his son, Jacob, Wiese presented the 100 titles to new home owners who now have a foot on the ladder of true economic freedom. The ceremony took place at the Cape Town Mayoral Banquet- ing Hall. Also in attendance were Free Market Foundation (FMF) executive director Leon Louw, who addressed the gathering, and Cape Town FMF director Temba Nolutshungu, who was master of ceremonies.

Wiese has sponsored 300 full titles around the country as part of the Khaya Lam Project to see the transfer to full freehold title of thousands of government rental houses in Cape Town and some six million nationally.

De Lille said: “The recipi- ents walked into this hall today as tenants, but they leave as homeowners. This title deed is more than a piece of paper. It is the key which will unlock many more economic opportunities. It is encouraging to find other organisations like the FMF that share in the vision of transformation through ownership and I commend them for their work in this regard.”

Christo Wiese said the business community’s involvement in the FMF’s Khaya Lam Project is a wonderful opportu- nity for the private sector to form partnerships with local government and the FMF to bring about real transformation in the country.

Nolutshungu said: “Black land deprivation was probably the worst element of apartheid. Ever since apartheid ended, little has changed. There are still between 5 million and 7 million black families living as tenants or without ownership rights in houses they have lived in for generations. There has been no systematic conversion of these “council owned” and “traditional community” properties to full unrestricted ownership.

“The FMF is creating a blueprint to be replicated throughout the country. The prospects for economic upliftment through the Khaya Lam property titling project are exciting and immense.”

This is the second title deed presentation sponsored by Wiese, who is now sponsoring a third batch of 100 title deeds. The first was in the project pilot area of Ngwathe, Free State, where he presented 100 title deeds to residents at an event in Tumahole, in April 2015.

The FMF’s Khaya Lam pilot project was launched in October 2009, when the Ngwathe Municipal Council, by a unanimous vote of all parties, took the far-sighted decision to team up with the FMF in its aim to have all Ngwathe municipallyowned rental and self- built housing transferred to registered tenants at no cost to the tenants.

Transformation through ownership has had beneficial consequences for the residents of Ngwathe that have far exceeded expectations. As the benefits become increasingly clear, support from private and corporate sponsors for titling projects in different areas of the country has accelerated.

By the end of 2016, the Khaya Lam Project expects to have converted more than 3 000 properties worth an estimated R300 million to freehold title in various parts of the country.

Perry Feldman, retired Parys farmer and entrepreneur, and project manager of the Khaya Lam Land Reform Project, says this initiative is an essential tool for the development of a peaceful and prosperous South Africa.

“The cost of a single title is R1 950. Sponsors are very necessary: individuals, companies and organisations. Anyone interested in supporting the project can call the Free Market Foundation at 011 884 0270 or email fmf@mweb.co.za