2012/08-August 2012 - City of uMhlathuze

More title deeds are handed out
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human
Settlements intends to complete the
transfer of houses to beneficiaries in
Aquadene and Brackenham by May 2013
and close out the project by the end of
next year.
This is according to the MEC for
Human Settlements and Public Works,
Mr Ravi Pillay who presented title deeds
to a further 47 beneficiaries at a ceremony
at the Brackenham Community Hall at the
end of July.
Mr Pillay said that the process of
transferring houses to bona fide
beneficiaries started in 2008. In total 1 140
properties are to be transferred and of
this number 818 properties have already
been transferred. The balance is in
different phases of the conveyancing
process.
Updating the community on progress
he said that 30 transfers have been lodged
with the Deeds Office and a further 60
transfers have been lodged with the Office
of the State Attorney. He also appealed
for patience from the community due to
“a human resource challenge at the State
Attorney’s Office” adding that extra
personnel are being made available to
expedite the process.
He spoke about the significance of the
handovers: “Tonight, we are re-affirming
Deputy Mayor Vera Gumbi and Mayor Elphas Mbatha congratulate title deed recipients
from Brackenham, Ram and Sally Ramsami, who were one of 47 families to receive their
official documents from MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Ravi Pillay (right).
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has presented to
Council a concept plan and way forward for the development
of a Community Health Centre in Ward 13 eSikhaleni.
The eSikhawini Community Health Centre (ECHC) Project
was initiated by the KZNDOH in July 2011 with the appointment
of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) as Implementing
Agent.
A preferred site was identified in the Dube Traditional
Authority Area in Ward 13 and is about 5 hectares in size.
It is proposed the ECHC include a clinic, additional
administration block, guard house, electrical services and
waste building, tuck shop, mortuary, domestic services building,
mothers’ lodges, staff accommodation and three-bedroom staff
houses.
The site is currently owned by the Department of Public
Works but the title deeds are still held by uMhlathuze
Municipality. Therefore the Department of Public Works needs
to request the land to be transferred.
and restoring the dignity of Aquadene and
Brackenham communities. A title deed
might look like just a piece of paper but
its significance surpasses various
generations in a household. In addition,
a title-deed is a surety of undisputed home
ownership and for the 47 beneficiaries
who will be getting theirs this evening it
is a realisation of a life dream.”
He added that beneficiaries have
benefitted from the Department’s
Enhanced Extended Discount Benefit
Scheme (EEDBS). “Through this scheme,
Government aims at helping tenants buy
their rental units (if and when they are
declared saleable). It also helps sales
debtors settle the amount they owe on
their properties (provided these have been
acquired before 1994).
“The EEDBS is just one of the many
varied products in our human settlements
service delivery basket. Others human
settlements products include Gap housing,
Community Residential Units, Social
Housing, Individual Housing Subsidy,
Incremental Housing, People’s Housing
Process, Emergency Housing
Programme, Upgrading of Informal
Settlements Programme, Institutional
Housing Subsidy Programme and the
Finance-linked Individual Subsidy
Programme (FLISP),” he said.
Community Health Centre for eSikhaleni
8
Once the Department has ownership of the site, it will be
necessary for them to give the Department of Health ‘permission
to occupy’ the site.
A development application will be submitted to Council for
consideration in due course.