Another 68 title deeds handed to Tumahole residents

Another 68 title deeds, sponsored by the Reinet Foundation, were handed over to Tumahole residents last week. The handover was made possible by a non-partisan partnership between the Ngwathe mayor and officials and the Free Market Foundation’s (FMF) Khaya Lam land reform project. This initiative delivers home-ownership to township residents by facilitating the conversion of council-owned rental properties into freehold title – at no cost to the recipients or the local council. Since the first title deed presentation in September 2013, 3,914 title deeds have been handed over in Ngwathe.

Following last week’s presentation, another 200 title deeds will be handed over in Heilbron. More than a hundred of them will be transferred in Mokwallo the week after that. Khaya Lam will also be in Kwakwatsi, Koppies, for a title deed presentation early in May. Talking to the title deed owners in Tumahole, FMF director Chris Hattingh said Khaya Lam’s work was the fruit of much collaboration by members of a great internal team and stakeholders who are serious about improving the lives of the people in various communities around them. He added that recognising property rights is a crucial ingredient for any society to achieve some level of prospe- rity. “Property rights have formed part of every tribe, culture and community, in some form throughout the centuries.” “The house you have been living in as a tenant – in many cases, for generations – is now finally yours,” he said.