ALPOA ambivalent on title deeds
ALEXANDRA - The Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association is anticipating with trepidation, the hand over of title deeds to 18 land claimants by government.
THE Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association is anticipating the handover of title deeds to 18 land claimants by government with trepidation.
This was the prevailing view at the association’s general meeting, as hundreds of land and property claims lodged almost 20 years ago were still pending.
Earlier this year, former Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Obed Bapela, said the approved title deeds had been issued because they were uncontested. He said that among other issues, some were contested by tenants who also had residence permits to the same claimed land.
The association had also been in conflict with government since 2005 about claims after the City developed on some of the land, resulting in a court interdict against it, the land claims commission and some government departments.
The association’s secretary general, Jacky Segopa, said they were not certain if the approved title deeds included all the portions of land claimed by the 18, and would find out during the handover process scheduled for later this month.
Segopa added that said there had been attempts by government to persuade them to drop the interdict, but it would remain in effect until all claims were concluded.
“The Department of Justice once tried to entice us with a R30-million grant but this [would] not have been in our favour without the title deeds, as we [would] not [be able to] control its use,” he said.
Segopa added that in addition to the title deeds, government was offering claimants a land restoration option on serviced land in Marlboro, Lombardy, Linbro Park, Waterval and Carstenhof.
He urged interested parties to consider the offer carefully and ensure that they get the title deeds first. After that, they should negotiate with government for the housing development plan of their choice.
He said they would meet government on 5 September where the names of the claimants interested in the restoration option would be submitted.
Segopa mentioned another option from government for a business partnership, but the details were unclear so the association was unable to advise members appropriately.
He urged members to update their status and pay their dues so that the association could pay the costs for legal and other services for the ongoing support of the claimants. This includes those who want to lodge new claims following the recent amendment of legislation allowing for new claims to be lodged.
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