- Wallacedene residents recently received their title deeds as part of the City of Cape Town’s ongoing campaign to promote secure homeownership.
- The handover, attended by local officials, underscores the City’s commitment to delivering title deeds to beneficiaries, ensuring dignity and legal ownership for residents.
- The City also warns against scammers attempting to exploit the campaign by charging for the free title deeds.
Elated new homeowners in Wallacedene recently received the title deeds for their homes as part of the Human Settlements Directorate’s ongoing title-deed-to-door campaign.
A handover ceremony was attended by Subcouncil 2 councillor Siseko Mbandezi, then acting Mayco member for human settlements in the City.
About the event Mbandezi says it was a privilege for him to hand over the title deeds to assist in creating more homeowners.
“The City is working hard to deliver title deeds to residents of various communities in Cape Town, providing residents with dignity and secure homeownership. These important documents prove ownership and are important for financial transactions and estate planning.
“A title deed is so much more than a piece of paper and, as the City, we want to get them to as many beneficiaries as possible.”
City officials are currently visiting areas across the metro to find beneficiaries of City units who have not received their deeds.
Siseko encourages residents to contact the City in order for the department to deliver deeds right to their doorstep.
“If you or a family member is a beneficiary of a City unit without a title deed, look out for the easily recognisable title deed agents visiting your area and have the identity documents of you and your spouse ready. In the event of a death, a resident will have to provide a letter of authority, death certificate, or will,” says Siseko.
Residents may also bring along the required documents and visit the human settlements kiosk at the Cape Town Civic Centre, on the 2nd Floor from Monday to Friday between 09:00 – 12:00.
Look out for scammers
However, as the campaign takes off with more than 2 000 deeds delivered in recent months, scammers are seemingly taking advantage, demanding a massive R5 000 payment from vulnerable residents for title deeds or housing opportunities.
In fact, beneficiaries of City housing opportunities, and title deeds, do not have to pay anything to receive their opportunities.
Mayco member for human settlements Carl Pophaim warns that the City does not ask beneficiaries for money for the title deeds it is issuing as it is covering the costs.
The City was made aware of this latest scamming attempt when a resident contacted the City’s Call Centre to enquire about the R5 000 she’d been asked to deposit to obtain her title deed.
Residents are encouraged to report these incidents to the Human Settlements Call Centre or visit the kiosk or report it to the South African Police Service. Read more below.
For more information or if you want to verify that the agents are legitimate, contact 021 444 0333 or email title.deeds@capetown.gov.za or visit your local housing office.
