Beacon Valley residents have been handed their title deeds by mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis at their decades-old homes.

Gert Isaacs, 66, was one of three residents who received their title deeds by hand on their doorstep from Mr Hill-Lewis and mayoral committee member for human settlements Carl Pophaim on Tuesday May 14.

Mr Isaacs was 23 when he moved into his house with his wife. Forty-three years later, he is now a homeowner.

The couple raised three children in the house, one of whom still lives with Mr Isaacs whose wife, Hester, died in 2022.

Crying tears of joy, he said: “I am so happy that all of these years I now own this house. My wife would have been so proud.”

The City's human settlements department has handed 290 title deeds to Mitchell’s Plain municipal tenants since January, and 30 of these were received in the last two weeks.

The department will be launching a programme to ramp up the transfer of title deeds.

Mr Pophaim said the deed was more than just a piece of paper. “It is a life-changing document for future generations, representing both a home and an economic asset.

“The families who received their title deeds today represent just some of thousands of beneficiaries who will receive their title deeds over the coming months.”

He said it was the department’s “passion” to create new homeowners. “We take pride in ensuring that families benefiting from state-subsidised housing get their title deeds in good time,” he said.

The department had also invested in more resources to help resolve historical title deed issues and restore home ownership to the rightful beneficiaries, he said.

Last year the City passed a “no cost transfer” policy to enable tenants of council rental housing to become homeowners without any costs burden.

Mr Pophaim said they had appointed title deed detectives to help find beneficiaries and have also developed innovative tools like a QR code to make it simpler and faster to become a homeowner.

"A home and title deed means opportunities and stability for the whole family and for many future generations,’“ said Mr Pophaim.

Anyone who lives in a government house but does not have a title deed that proves ownership can call 021 444 0333, visit their local housing office with their identity document or email Title.Deeds@capetown.gov.za.

The title deed request must include the erf number and area in the subject line of the email, along with the name and surname of the registered title deed owner, his or her identity number and address.

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Beacon Valley residents receive title deeds