The City Times previously reported that the situation among residents has been so severe that the elderly are reported to be dying of stress.
In 2012, the EMM launched the Regularisation and Transfer of Houses (RETRO) Programme, which is aimed at regularising occupancy of council-owned houses.
Residents of council housing stock in Farrarmere Gardens Extension 54 were also invited to participate in the programme.
They said the EMM promised them that, in terms of the programme, it would take up to six months for them to get the title deeds of the properties they are currently occupying.
It is now two years later, and residents have never had any feedback on their applications.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality spokesman, Themba Gadebe, responded as follows:
Q: Since it has been a while since the residents applied for the title deeds, what is the progress of their applications at this stage?
A: Identification of beneficiaries or owners of record and completion of subsidy applications for identified beneficiaries has been completed, and the applications have been captured on the Housing Subsidy System, however, the next step, to give instructions to attorneys to transfer, could not happen.
This is due to the fact that the stands had to be subdivided and the conditions of the subdivision complied with.
In this regard, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s human settlements department appointed a service provider to undertake the subdivision and rezoning of the affected erven to enable the transfer to qualifying beneficiaries through the RETRO Programme.
The Special Mayoral Committee has since approved the subdivision and the rezoning of the affected erven subject to the following conditions:
- The affected erven will be obliged to have separate water and sewer connections;
- The installation of all sewer pipe extensions to the affected erven or provide each stand with a sewer connection.
In order to finalise the readiness process to enable transfer, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s (EMM) human settlements department is currently in a process to implement a project of separating water and sewer connection through the water and sanitation department – to ensure compliance with all the stipulated subdivision and rezoning conditions and enable transfer in terms of freehold ownership.
The next process in the project (after compliance with subdivision conditions) will be the following:
- Appointment of a land surveyor to ensure the registration of the new Erf numbers in the Surveyor General’s office.
- Issuing of instructions for the conveyancers to transfer the affected properties to approved applicants
- Transfer the affected properties to approved applicants.
- Receipt and distribution of title deeds to affected beneficiaries.
Q: How long does it usually take to issue title deeds when applicants have supplied the metro with all the necessary and relevant documents?
A: In cases where there is no need to meet certain town planning conditions, as is the case with Farrarmere residents, the process can take from three to six months from the date of issuing instructions to the lawyers.
Q: Can the title deeds be expected any time soon?
A: The title deeds can be expected as soon as the project of separating water and sewer connection is finalised.
Thereafter, the registration of the SG plan with the Surveyor General will follow to enable transfer of the subdivided stands.
Q: Has anyone in the Farrarmere area received title deeds after 1994?
A: The EMM has not yet issued title deeds in the affected area, due to the fact that the units are semi-detached and needed to be subdivided first, to ensure that each unit has a correct stand number and the transfer is freehold.
The enquiry regarding title deeds issued after 1994 and before the property was transferred to the EMM must be referred to Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS).
Q: Furthermore, complainants claim that non-issuing of title deeds is a delaying tactic by the metro to transfer all properties into ”market related rentals” before they issue deeds, so that they can pay high rentals.
How true is this allegation?
A: The allegation is not true; the delay was mainly caused by the requirement to separate water and sewer connection.
Q: Residents also said that, last year, the mayor, in his budget speech, said the metro has set aside R21-million to refurbish council-owned houses, but that no renovation has taken place in Farrarmere.
How true is this and has there ever been any renovation carried out since the last financial year? If yes, what exactly?
A: The R21-m does not refer only to Farrarmere Gardens, but to all council-owned rental stock.
An amount of R156 003.49 was spent on the Farrarmere flats and R1 961 255.24 on Farrarmere houses in the 2013/2014 financial year.
