A house of her own for 99 year old granny

Having waited a lifetime, 99 year old Mrs Maria Mothupi received the title deed to her house in a simple handover ceremony held in her own home in Tumahole, attended by Ngwathe mayor Ms Joey Mochela, and private sponsor Mrs Tersia Cook, on Thursday 7 May.

Born in 1916, three years after the promulgation of the Native Land Act of 1913, Mrs Mothupi, is the latest beneficiary of the Free Market Foundation’s (FMF) Khaya Lam (my house) project, to receive the full title deed to her home, free of charge. The new owner has occupied her house since 1982 in which eight family members live with her.
Tersia Cook of Fairlands, Johannesburg, paid for the title deed in lieu of a birthday present for her brother living in England.
Most important to Mothupi is that she can now leave the house to her children without any possibility that someone else could suddenly lay claim to it. “I can sleep well now”, she said.
Mrs Mothupi amused the small gathering by saying that this was the first party that has ever been held for her and although she ate the cake, she would have preferred meat.
Now that she holds the title deed, Mrs Mothupi said that if she is blessed with good health, she will have the leaking roof fixed and have new doors put in.
FMF Khaya Lam project manager, Mr Perry Feldman, explained the important role that original sponsor FNB continues to play and also the vital contribution of businessman Christo Wiese and individuals like Tersia Cook and local farmers. “Without sponsors this critical project cannot go forward and we urge individuals, organisations and businesses to help more citizens become home owners for the first time in their lives,” he said.
Cook agreed with Feldman saying how humbled and privileged she felt to be the sponsor of this particular title deed. She promised to hold a party for Mrs Mothupi on her 100th birthday in January 2016.