Dobsonville shop owners receive title deeds
It took more than a decade for Dobsonville shop owners to receive their title deeds, finally a promise made by the ANC led government has been fulfilled.
Dobsonville shop owners received title deeds at an intimate event that was led by former Ward 48 councillor Jacquire Lekgetho, newly elected Ward 48 councillor Tshepo Nawane, Ward 47 councillor Tebogo Mhlari and former Dobsonville Mayor Steve Nkatlo at the Kopanong civic centre in Dobsonville.
Lekgetho said: “The African National Congress (ANC) led government took a decision in 2005 to give shop owners title deeds in the whole City of Johannesburg and today it has fulfilled its promise.
“Today serves as a historic day for shop owners who have been waiting for the title deeds and not losing hope, now they can use the title deeds as a starting point when they want to develop their businesses,” she said.
One of the recipients of the title deed Mankidi Joyce Seane said that she had waited 11 years for the title deed and she is very happy to have finally received one.
“The waiting really affected our development process because we saw people developing their shops and we couldn’t do anything to our shops because they didn’t belong to us.
“But I am confident that now we will be able to develop our shops even though most of the owners have passed on I trust we will come together with beneficiaries because unity is a strength, “she said.
Sibongile Dzana another recipient said that she also had waited a long time for the title deed, “I use to own a butcher but now I am renting it. Not having a title deed for my shop was stressful because you are never sure what will happen to your shop as the property does not belong to you but today I am very happy, now that I have the title deed possibilities are endless.”
Seane said that even though the 11 years they spent waiting was characterised by conflict she is thankful to the councillors for fulfilling the promises that they were told 11 years ago.
Lekgetho said that this is the beginning not an end, “We are still going to work very hard to ensure that people get title deeds.”
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