This Is Our Land Now’: Joy as Stinkwater Residents Receive Long-Awaited Title Deeds

More than 3,400 families in Stinkwater celebrate a life-changing step in property ownership, some after waiting decades.

For decades, many families in Stinkwater, northeast of Pretoria, have lived with uncertainty some in homes they inherited, others in places they built from the ground up, all without a piece of paper proving ownership. That all changed this week.

In a powerful moment of dignity and justice, the City of Tshwane officially handed over more than 3,478 title deeds to residents of Wards 13 and 95. It’s a move that signals not just bureaucratic progress, but a deeply personal victory for families who have long called these plots home.

‘It’s more than paper, it’s proof we exist’

The handover, held at Fatlhogang Primary School, drew hundreds of residents, some dressed in their Sunday best, beaming with pride. Among them was 99-year-old Ms Spohy Aphane, who clutched her title deed with a mix of joy and disbelief.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” she said in Sesotho, thanking the city and officials for fulfilling a dream she never thought would materialize in her lifetime. “This paper means my family is safe.”

Ms Aphane’s words resonated with many in attendance, especially those who had lived through apartheid-era land dispossession and post-1994 housing delays.

How we got here: The long road to land justice

This handover is part of Tshwane’s Tenure Upgrading Project, developed in collaboration with the Gauteng and North West Departments of Rural Development and Land Reform. More than R6.2 million was invested in planning, registering, and formalizing properties in Extensions 4 to 8, known locally as Ditengteng.

The land itself was once privately owned, but was transferred to the City of Tshwane using the Settlement Land Acquisition Grant (SLAG), a tool meant to help municipalities unlock land for low-income families. The residents received the title deeds at no cost.

What title deeds mean for communities like Stinkwater

For many South Africans, especially in informal settlements, lacking a title deed means being unable to access loans, pass down property legally, or improve their homes without fear of eviction. This handover finally corrects that imbalance.

MMC for Housing and Human Settlements, Alderman Aaron Maluleka, who personally distributed some of the deeds, described the moment as a turning point for the region.

“This isn’t just a formality. It’s legal recognition of people’s lives and struggles. It’s stability, dignity, and the ability to plan for future generations,” he said.

A word of caution: Guard your property, plan your legacy

Maluleka also reminded recipients that ownership comes with responsibility. Residents must now plan succession legally, avoid informal sales, especially within the eight-year preemptive clause and ensure they pay for basic municipal services.

“Too many families lose homes because wills weren’t written or because documents get lost. We’re urging everyone to safeguard their title deeds and plan properly,” he said.

Social media cheers and civic pride

On social media, Tshwane’s announcement was met with applause. “This is what service delivery looks like,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Others celebrated elderly recipients, calling them “the true heroes of land justice.”

In a country still grappling with deep spatial inequality, this gesture in a historically overlooked corner of Gauteng stands out.

Will other townships follow?

Tshwane’s land reform efforts are far from over, but this milestone sets a hopeful tone. Residents in other informal settlements now have reason to believe they too could soon hold legal proof of their homes.

As Ms Aphane held up her deed and waved it proudly in the air, the crowd cheered. For once, the system had worked in their favour.

And in Stinkwater, at least for one day, land justice wasn’t a dream. It was real and it was theirs.

{Source: The Citizen}

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