Cllr Susan Stewart against sectional title deeds
Councillor Stewart explained in the meeting that accepting title deeds would undoubtedly have adverse effects on an already burdened community.
A public meeting was organised by the City of Johannesburg’s Housing Department at the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre to discuss the handing out of Sectional Title Deeds to residents of Waterval Flats in Ward 82.
Ward councillor Susan Stewart who was present at the meeting shared that she is against the plan to hand out the title deeds to residents and she further explained why.
The councillor also indicated that she felt excluded from the meeting invitation because officials are aware that she profusely opposes Sectional Title Deed Schemes in staggered blocks.
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Councillor Stewart explained in the meeting that accepting title deeds would undoubtedly have adverse effects on an already burdened community.
She mentioned the failed scheme by Provincial Government at Bosmont Villas as an example. “The people of Ward 82 simply cannot afford title deed ownership because of some obvious reasons,” she added.
The unemployment rate, financial implications and the conditions of the infrastructure were some of the reasons cited by the councillor.
She further explained that residents would have to pay all their municipal services such as water, electricity, sewerage, refuse removal and levies for the maintenance of the neglected infrastructure.
She gave an example of the hundreds of thousands of rands needed to maintain a shared roof structure.
Councillor Stewart added: “A Body Corporate would need to be established or a Management Agent employed to facilitate the maintenance and finances of the Sectional Title Scheme.”
She informed the residents present at the meeting that she would be conducting independent workshops within the ward to provide clarity on title deed schemes and why she strongly opposes it.
Councillor Stewart said that the City of Johannesburg (COJ) is still to prove to residents that any of their previous Sectional Title Deed Schemes in staggered blocks were successful and according to her none of the many Sectional Title Deeds that they have implemented have worked.
She encouraged the residents to say “No!” to the issuing of the Sectional Title Deeds in Waterval flats.
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