“To have a title deed means a sense of security and ownership. To own a house brings dignity to families as well.”
Those were words of gratitude from Ward 97 councillor, Ryder Mkhutswana, following the handover of 51 title deeds to residents of different areas in Khayelitsha at the Khayelitsha Training Centre on Thursday 20 October.
Residents from Mandela Park, Ilitha Park and Crossroads were some of the recipients. The beneficiaries waited for years to have the houses permanently registered in their names.
With so much demand for houses and a lack of land to build houses, having title deeds has a sense of security.
One of the recipients, Asenathi Mlotywa (33), told City Vision she was grateful that she obtained the title deed.
Both her parents died while struggling to get the house that she now occupies with her older sister.
“We are at peace now. We can safely sleep well at night as it was a real struggle to get this title deed under our names. Both my parents died while still waiting for the title deed to be furnished,” Mlotywa said.
“Me and my older sister are happy the day finally came. Not having a title deed was stressful, but we are now at ease as this is a guarantee that no one can take away from us,” she said.
Mkhutswana said described the day as a turning point in the lives of many recipients.
“This is an important day for house owners as it means ownership and security. Most of these residents bought their houses through the banks, some were old so there was a lot of struggle about issues of final payment,” he said.
Mkhutswana said he was satisfied that at least some people were now going to sleep peacefully at night as owning a house also brought one’s dignity back.
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