150 families in New Eesterus now legally own the land they’ve lived on for decades, while 17 households in Soshanguve moved into completed houses this week, as Gauteng government pushed to end years of tenure insecurity in the north of Pretoria.
Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Tasneem Motara and Tshwane MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka handed over the title deeds and keys during a joint ceremony on Thursday. The move puts legal ownership in the hands of residents who bought stands for as little as R15 years ago, and gives families who waited since 1996 a formal home.
“This restores dignity,” Motara said. “When you have a title deed, you have security. You can plan for your children. You can access credit. Government came to formalise the area so communities stop being angry at councillors for something that was delayed by the system.”
The MEC also urged residents to ease pressure on local councillors, saying municipalities and provincial government are “working around the clock” to process backlogs. MMC Maluleka said the handover proved all spheres of government must work as “one government” in the eyes of the public. He called on Motara to include New Eesterus in the Department’s in-situ development plan, arguing residents already have water, roads and now title deeds, but many still can’t afford to build.
The 17 new houses in Soshanguve were completed after construction stalled for years. Beneficiary Sibongile Cele, 61, who arrived in the area in 1996, said she was “delighted” to finally move in. Mpatsake Mahlwele, 41, said the house meant her four children and two grandchildren would no longer live in a shack.
Gauteng government said it remains committed to accelerating housing delivery and clearing title deed backlogs to secure tenure for more communities.
