04-08-2025
Alexandra residents still waiting for title deeds
A long-running dispute over housing ownership in Alexandra's K206 housing development has left many residents without title deeds, despite being allocated homes as far back as 2010.
The development includes three types of units: stand-alone houses, flats, and rental units. While title deeds have been prepared for those living in stand-alone houses and flats, residents in rental units remain in limbo. The confusion stems from how the City of Johannesburg handled the original housing allocations 15 years ago.
According to activist and long-time resident Judith Madiakgotla, the initial plan was for beneficiaries living in flats to also own the adjacent rental units. However, during the rushed development ahead of the 2010 World Cup, the city allocated people to both flats and rental units without clarifying that occupants in rental units are tenants, not rightful owners of the units. 'There was a situation where councillors brought in their own lists of people they called 'special cases'. That's where the mix-up started. Some were [flat owners], and others were allocated rental units.'
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She stated that it was only after residents had moved in, did the city clarify that those in flats were the rightful owners of both the flat and the rental unit next to it.
She said residents have taken their complaints to the Rental Housing Tribunal, the Public Protector, and the Human Rights Commission. While title deeds are reportedly ready for those in stand-alone units, as well as those in flats, Madiakgotla said they aren't there for those in the rental units. 'The dispute is simmering. We want title deeds for everyone that was allocated in 2010 by the City of Johannesburg, and is on the database.'
Democratic Alliance Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlement Mervyn Cirota recently visited the area and acknowledged the problem. Cirota said the issue affects up to 6 000 households. 'We need to get the city and the province involved in this. There needs to be a forensic audit and we need to go back to 2010 to determine exactly what the roll out [process] was. Who is entitled to ownership and what the distinction is between the ownership of the so-called [flats and stand-alone] units and the rental units, because there is some confusion about that.'
Alex News reached out to the Department of Human Settlements for comment. Further updates will be provided once they become available.
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