Residents waiting on title deeds
150 District Six houses still officially belong to the trust
DISTRICT SIX residents living in 150 restitution houses are in a state of confusion after having not yet received title deeds, and in their desperation have turned to the SA Human Rights Commission for a resolution.
Advocate Priscilla Jana, deputy chairwoman of the national branch of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) met residents at the District Six Community Centre last week, to discuss their concerns.
Yesterday, Jana said she would be referring the residents’ concerns to the regional SAHRC for investigation.
Vuyani Nkasayi, spokesperson for the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, said the department was in the “process of transferring the properties into the names of the beneficiaries”.
“Our attorneys have experienced challenges on issues of sub-division plans for the properties which have caused this long delay. We anticipate completing the process as soon as possible so that we can issue the title deeds. On the issue of rates and utilities, our agreement with the City of Cape Town is that claimants will start paying the bills after 10 years from the date of registration of title deeds. At this stage, no title deeds have been issued.”
Resident Brian Kannemeyer, 65, from Chapel Street, said he received a water account addressed to the District Six Beneficiary Trust for R51 492.32 and he “does not know why”.
Kannemeyer, a state pensioner, said: “I’m so tired and I don’t have any answers. I don’t know why they sent me this big account, and it is not even addressed to me.
“Everything is so mixed up. We don’t know right from wrong here. There’s also lots of problems with the houses they built, like cracked walls.”
Resident Mymoena Kreysler, from Roger Street, who had also received a water bill addressed to the District Beneficiary Trust, said a financial audit and a land audit was needed as there were too many conflicting stories from officials.
City spokesperson Simon Maytham said the City would be launching an investigation into the matter.
Tania Kleinhans Cedras of The Institute for the Restoration of Aborigines of South Africa said: “I don’t think that many people will return to District Six in their time. And those who have returned have a sense of insecurity because they have not received the title deeds to their homes.”