News Update – 1600 Title Deeds and Permits handed over in Botshabelo
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Click here to download the PDF for News Update 17 April 2013
The second leg of the Human Settlements Month saw over 1000 residents of Botshabelo receive official documents recognising them as house owners. The Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Clr Thabo Manyoni, on Tuesday 16 handed over 1600 title deeds and site permits to residents of various sections of Botshabelo as part of the Mayoral Community Outreach Campaign. “This means that by the end of the day, 1600 people will be able to say: this is my house,” Clr Manyoni said. The Executive Mayor mentioned that the handing over of title deeds and site permits was a realisation of a promise spanning from the Botshabelo Accord declared in 1995 by the then housing minister, Joe Slovo.
Stating the new government’s intentions regarding housing for South Africans, the first Minister of Housing said: “Government strives for the establishment of viable, socially and economically integrated communities which are situated in areas allowing convenient access to economic opportunities.” The city has committed itself to changing the face of Botshabelo and turning it into the type of community which was envisioned by the government. “We are going to turn Botshabelo into what you could call ‘Khumbulekhaya’. Many people have left Botshabelo saying they are leaving for better opportunities elsewhere or because it was filled with shacks. They will want to return because of improvements we are working on,” the EM said to a loud applause.
He added that the site permits recipients should ensure that they keep their documents safe, and not sell them as they would also get their title deeds once they have been built houses. “I am very happy,” said one of the recipients Zanele Van Wyk. “I am now more secure and relieved that my house is officially mine. Even more satisfying is that my children will have some sort of inheritance when I die,” the mother of two said. In an effort to show that the city and various spheres of government are determined to bring services closer to the people, the provincial department of health, Home Affairs and SASSA were on hand offering various services as according to their institutions. Similarly, the Mangaung Wellness Unit had HIV/Aids testing and counselling services.
Click here to download the PDF for News Update 17 April 2013