Walking all the way from his home with a walker to the Montoedi Hall in Mokwallo, Vredefort was worth every challenging step Mr Mahase of Erf 115 took. He was about to receive the title deed he could finally call his own.
The Khaya Lam Land Reform Project presented his title deed to him in the road to accommodate him. He was late and the delegates had been warned that he would be coming just as they were about to leave.
He was one of the 45 to whom title deeds were presented at the Montoedi Hall on 26 September. It was a unique occasion with the Freemasons being involved for the first time.
Dr Bart Kurek of Johannesburg, who is a Mason and an avid supporter of Khaya Lam was the driving force behind the 34 title deeds that he and the Freemasons sponsored.
Bart met his wife, Sheila, in the Philippines. Her family was dispossessed of their property during one of the regimes and received no compensation. They were left on the street.
Sheila has a special bond with Khaya Lam and encourages patients in their practice to contribute to the project.
The couple, one of their therapists and three Masons attended the ceremony.
The sponsor of the other 10 title deeds is Philip Wilson from the UK. Every six months or so, an amount equivalent to the cost of 10 title deeds appears in the Khaya Lam account from someone they have never met. This proves there are people who care about the future of South Africa. Mrs Makoatse, the caterer who supplied the tea and cookies for the handing over event, started baking at 03:00 in the morning that day to have fresh cookies for the function.
A local councillor, Malefu Mofokeng officiated in the place of the mayor, Ms Joey Mochela. Khaya Lam thanked all the councillors and officials who gave up their time to make these presentations a special occasion for both the sponsors and the beneficiaries.
Khaya Lam has already transferred 1850 title deeds in Ngwathe and funds have been pledged for another 1250. The NGO’s ambition is to make Ngwathe the first municipal district in South Africa where every eligible person has a title deed to the home in which they live.
By late October, another 100 title deeds will be handed over in Mokwallo. On 1 November, 100 title deeds, sponsored by Nedbank, will be handed over at the sports centre.
On 23 January 2019, 105 title deeds, sponsored by the Rising Tide Foundation in Switzerland. will be handed over Mokwallo.
