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Address by Gauteng Department of Housing MEC, Nomvula Mokonyane, during Regularisation and Transfer of Ownership (Retro) Programme launch, Eldorado Park
13 February 2005 Honourable Councillors, It is a privilege and an honour to be part of this winning team that has heed the call to create non-racial communities through regularisation and transfer of properties to families and beneficiaries located in a former "Own Affairs Areas" created by the apartheid regime. One of the most obvious manifestations of the apartheid past was the creation of racially divided communities through the Group Areas Act of 1948. This was deliberately done to perpetuate poverty and skewed delivery of services. Owning a peace of land or a house was strictly prohibited. It was preserved for people of a certain racial group. Despite the muddy trail that the past has created, the Government has taken a bold initiative to forgive defaulters and to facilitate the transfer of properties (Houses and Flats) in the former "own affairs areas" through the Regularisation and Transfer of Ownership (RETRO) programme. During the opening of the Gauteng Legislature on 07 June 2004, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said, " Within 18 months we will expand this process to include properties that are in what used to be known as 'own affairs areas' under the tri-cameral parliament under apartheid. This means that all people in our province who meet the criteria will benefit, regardless of race and area. Mrs Van der Merwe, Ma Motaung and Mrs Pienaar will be treated the same, even though their properties may be in Mogale city, Katlehong and Claremont ". Our programme of handing over the title deeds to beneficiaries is in line with the commitment made by the President and the Premier and for the next six moths we will accelerate the process in order to ensure that deserving people have access to security and tenure. Furthermore, the Department of Housing is also engaged in developing another debt forgiveness policy for more complicated situations of those flats that are not transferable, where lease agreement will have to continue. In a case where, a lease agreement allowed the buyer to sell or let the property once a period of five years from the date of sale had expired, the buyer can still get debt written off, but will not be allowed subsidy. This implies that he or she will have to pay full price. If he or she let the house to someone else, then that tenant is entitled to protection against eviction or exploitation in accordance with the law. However, a tenant's lease requires him or her to stay in the house personally. If he or she has let the house to someone the lease becomes null and void. It is my conviction as an MEC that our intervention will end years of conflict and will provide sound capital base to many families. This is our humble contribution as a department towards poverty eradication. Coming back to Retro Programme it makes provision for the following: Moreover, this year is the year in which millions of our people will be celebrating 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter adopted in 1955 in Kliptown. This was the congress of the people in which a resounding call "There shall be houses, security and comfort" was made. And the same call has been reinforced by the declaration made by the South African President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, that the government programmes in the next four quarters will focus mainly on implementation and realisation of Freedom Charter. What we are doing here today as government is the beginning of a long journey started by our heroes and heroines. Ladies and gentlemen, the department is in constant consultation with other local authorities to ensure that Retro programme is accelerated. I have already met and briefed Members of Mayoral Committees responsible for housing and I am happy to announce that municipalities are also ready to transfer stock once all necessary processes have been finalised. In conclusion, I would like to state categorically that the success and failure of this programme lies squarely on each and every individual whether a councillor, beneficiary or any stakeholder. To the beneficiaries, I hope that you will enjoy your freedom in your own private home. In the same breath I urge you to start paying for rates and services supplied by the municipality. If you pay for the services rendered, definitely Retro will go down in history as a programme that ushered in a new progressive political culture in our society. But if you don't pay for services rendered we will be back to square one which is a reality that many of us shudder to consider. Therefore I urge all of you to play your part; "Pay for services" so that government can be able to expand its services to the entire populace. Together, therefore, let us break new ground in housing delivery! I thank you. Issued by: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
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