As part of the City of Joburg’s efforts to ensure that 5% economic growth become a reality, Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba handed over 36 title deeds to business owners and NGOs in Soweto today, 11 February 2019.
The initiative form part of Joburg Property Company’s (JPC) Land Regularisation Programme, which is aimed at addressing the distribution of council-owned land to residents.
This is the second time title deeds have been handed over to businesses in Diepkloof over the last nine months. The first 22 recipients that received title deeds became owners of business premises in Soweto that had been leased to them for about 30 years.
The process of land regularisation is an important initiative, which, if tackled effectively, will act as a catalyst for development benefiting communities, small enterprises and developers. Its purpose is to address some of the socio-economic inequalities associated with land and home ownership.
“Today is yet another celebration as three churches, the Biblical Reformed Church in Riverlea, the Presbyterian Church of Africa in Orlando West and the Methodist Church of South Africa in Naledi, and 33 business owners receive full ownership of their premises,” said Mayor Mashaba.
He said the title deeds provided them with security when growing their businesses.
“This is a real chance to participate in the City’s economic growth. I encourage these business owners to continue working hard to grow their businesses, and when they start employing more people, they will grow and empower their communities,” said Mayor Mashaba.
When the multiparty coalition government took over the city’s administration in 2016, it promised to fast track the delivery of title deeds, create a business-friendly environment that attracts investors and entrepreneurs that lead to the creation of much needed jobs, and ultimately, achieve a 5% economic growth rate by 2021.
“The current administration prioritises economic freedom and security through objectives like property ownership. The City has worked hard to ensure the introduction of a number of new initiatives intended to stimulate Joburg’s economy and, in the process, kick-start a period of growth that will lead to sustained growth in jobs,” said Mayor Mashaba.
