DURBAN - IT WAS a proud moment for a blind 64-year-old Durban woman when she received the title deed to her first house through through the national Title Deeds Restoration Programme yesterday.
Just over two years ago, life was dire for Sibongile Mhlongo who lived in a shack with her three children and grandchild.
Mhlongo’s life has changed for the better now that she’s become the proud owner of a house in Cornubia which was given to her in 2018.
Mhlongo is one of 70 women from Cornubia, Kingsburgh and Tshelimnyama who became property owners after receiving their title deeds at a handover event at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre yesterday.
Mhlongo said receiving the title deed gave her peace as it means her three children and grandchild will always have a place to call home.
“I am grateful to receive the title deed so soon after moving into my house. One of my biggest fears was what would happen to my children when I am gone. I feel so relieved now knowing that they will always have shelter,” she said.
According to the eThekwini Municipality, the handover event was meant to honour women as part of the City’s Women’s Month celebrations, and address imbalances of the past.
The City said that, through the Title Deeds Restoration Programme, a national project which commenced in the 2015/16 financial year, the municipality was addressing backlogs in the issuing of title deeds. More than 11 000 properties have been transferred to their rightful owners so far.
The city’s chairperson of the Finance Committee, Diana Hoorzuk, said home ownership brings renewed hope to those requiring shelter.
“The beneficiaries will not only be proud title deed holders, but they will also be able to pass property ownership onto future generations, thus breaking the cycle of poverty,” she said.
She further said the title deeds handover was in line with the National Development Plan, a roadmap to socio-economic transformation that aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.
The City’s chairperson of the Human Settlements, and Infrastructure Committee, Thanduxolo Sabelo, urged beneficiaries to safeguard the title deeds.
“A house legally becomes yours when you receive a title deed. These houses are now yours because of the title deed you hold. Keep it safe,” said Sabelo.
THE MERCURY