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Thokoza housing occupants officially own their houses

Gauteng MEC for Housing Ms Nomvula Mokonyane officially handed over 70 title deeds to beneficiaries through the Regularization and Transfer of Properties (RETRO) programme.A grandmother, who lives with her two orphaned grandchildren, was visibly ecstatic when she and other beneficiaries were handed their title deeds at Sam Ntuli Sports Stadium in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni yesterday.Ms Elen Khoza (64) of Siluma View in Natalspruit was among 70 beneficiaries. The pensioner who worked as a domestic worker only became a first time home owner recently.The handing over of the title deeds follows Premier Mbhazima Shilowa's authorization to Ekurhuleni to write off housing debt to enable the free transfer of the Second Directive properties under RETRO.The weekend's hand over of the title deeds or ownership is comprised of two phases. The first phase dealt with single residential houses in the following areas: Eden Park , Palm Ridge, Windmill Park , Reiger Park , Delmore, Geluksdal, Springs and Nigel. In this phase a total of 4265 have already been claimed and 1703 have been registered in the Deeds Office.Phase two of the project deals with flats and action such as Socio-economic and consumer education survey are currently underway and have been completed in Germiston, Springs, Brakpan and Nigel.Speaking at the sports centre MEC Mokonyane said: "these title deeds don't mean that you only own the house but you get the ownership of the land as well". She continued: "we would like to build families hence the title deeds will be issued in both couples' names. And women have a right to own a property and they will no longer have to be married in order to own one."She then encouraged the community to look after their homes because they are an investment. Ms Mokonyane further explained that some of the RDP houses which were built for R15 000 a few years back some of them are now valued at R150 000 "because their owners took care of their investment".Also a beneficiary in this project was Ms Sarah Nkosi a pensioner, who lives with her four children in Thokoza Ext 2. Nkosi said, "I am elated that the house is mine." She has been living in the house for more than 17 years.The hand over did not only ensure that people who have been living in these houses for many years are given ownership, but consolidate the gains made in the delivery of houses in the province.