It’s Aluta Continua for Alpoa on title deeds
ALEXANDRA - Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association (ALPOA) has vowed to continue the struggle to secure title deeds for all its members.
Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association (Alpoa) vows to continue its struggle to secure title deeds for all its members.
This was said recently at the association’s general meeting at Motsweding Centre also attended by Hogan Lovells, a legal firm representing the claimants. A daily newspaper recently revealed that 14 land claims had been approved and title deeds would be issued to the claimants soon. According to Alpoa’s secretary general, Jacky Segopa, “the 14 title deeds were issued because the claims were not contested but this explanation is not satisfactory as most submitted claims had followed correct procedure and the association has not been informed of any contestations.While the approval of the few title deeds is encouraging news it unfortunately arose from pressure exerted on the public officials by President Zuma who has stressed the need for speedy resolution of the claims. It is necessary for the association to continue lobbying for approval of all claims as without their resolution, most of the proposed developments in Alexandra like the BRT may not happen in their entirety.”
Segopa further added that due to the pressure, the officials were now asking the association to consider other options in the event that the remaining claims were not approved. The options include the relocation of 360 serviced stands in Marlboro and Lombardy respectively or to land still to be demarcated and serviced in Kelvin and Limbro Park. While the association was open to considering these options, it was concerned on the lack of details provided and would rely on mandate from its members to pursue the options providing they were genuine.
Explaining the options, the association’s legal representative Michal Johnson said they included getting back properties and title deeds, relocation elsewhere and business ventures with the government. “But government has not provided adequate details on the options for the association to inform members accordingly and seek their mandate on the way forward. We expect the officials to be more forthright with the association,” she said.
Meanwhile, Segopa urged members to update their subscriptions to enable the association to pay legal advice, administration, communication costs and to make contributions to other social challenges of members. Also, he encouraged them to approach the Assets Disposal and Regularisation Directorate in the Department of Local Government to check on their claims which may be approved already but held up in bureaucratic processes.
