Events – Tenure Support Centre

Recording and presentation: Titling challenges and opportunities in South African cities

On 11 November 2024 the Tenure Support Centre hosted a seminar on the Titling Challenges and Opportunities in South African Cities. The seminar was opened by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis who reaffirmed the City’s commitment to eradicting titling challenges for low-income households in the City. This was followed by a presentation by Illana Melzer of the Tenure Support Centre (TSC) which drew on the experiences of the TSC in assisting individuals resolve their title deed problems as well as an analysis on the size and nature of the title deed challenge across South Africa.

The full presentation and recording of the event is available below, as well as shorter individual topic chapters.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis address

Introduction to the Tenure Support Centre

How big is the title deed challenge?

Why do properties on the Deeds Registry have compromised title?

What is the size and nature of the title deed backlog?

What is the opportunity?

Q&A

For any questions or comments on the presentation, please contact Illana Melzer (illana@71point4.com)

EVENT: TITLING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES

RSVP here

The Tenure Support Centre (TSC) invites you to join Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Illana Melzer for a
discussion on titling challenges and opportunities in South African cities

Roughly one third of the formal urban housing stock was developed by the State and given to poor households as part of the RDP subsidy housing programme, arguably the most redistributive of all post-apartheid government’s programmes. While these properties lie unencumbered on the balance sheets of low-income South African families their performance as assets is severely undermined by the lack of formal title. Many owners have no title deeds at all, or the title deeds they have are not in their names. This problem affects millions of households who must rely on social mechanisms to protect their rights. Ownership disputes are common and are often resolved outside the legal system, further destabilizing already vulnerable areas and entrenching a mafia-style governance thuggary.

The problem has wide ramifications. Cities cannot govern effectively without being able to identify property owners. Nor can they bill for services when they have no idea who the owner is, putting their financial sustainability in peril. And the financial sector is unable to provide mortgage finance, an increasingly politicised issue creating real risks for the banking sector.

There have been various initiatives to resolve titling challenges in South Africa at various times in various areas. But as fast as titling problems are solved, new problems are created. This challenge must be met by a concerted national effort, bringing together the resources of the public and private sectors. Join us to explore how this effort might be structured.

EVENT DETAILS

Monday, 11 November 2024

Investec Offices, 14 Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

5:30pm followed by drinks, snacks and networking

Underground parking is available

Speakers – Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis & Illana Melzer

Lessons from the Tenure Support Centre – 5 years on: Recording and Presentation

On Tuesday, 29th August the Tenure Support Centre hosted a public presentation to reflect on the highlights, lowlights and lessons learned over the past five years.

Thank you to all who joined, whether in-person and virtually. The response to the event and engagement with the content was hugely encouraging.

The full recording and presentation slides are available below.

For any questions related to the presentation or the TSC, please contact Illana Melzer (illana@71point4.com) or Kecia Rust (kecia@housingfinanceafrica.org).