BCC gives 40-year leases to Jabulani Flats residents

Nqobile Tshili, [email protected] 

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has made a ground-breaking decision to grant 40-year leases to 20 residents of Jabulani Flats next to Egodini, marking a significant milestone in the council’s efforts to convert rented apartments into home ownership schemes.

This move comes in response to a government directive, which aims to empower local authorities to transfer rented apartments to home ownership. 

The 20 residents, some of whom have been renting the flats for over 50 years, had applied to have the properties transferred to their ownership.

Notably, some residents have been occupying the flats since the 1960s, making this decision a long-awaited victory for those who have called Jabulani Flats home for decades. 

The latest council minutes confirm that the residents’ applications have been successful, paving the way for them to secure 40-year leases.

“The director of housing and community services (Mr Dictor Khumalo) reported on December 5, 2024, that an application had been received from Jabulani Flats residents requesting home ownership. These are two-bedroomed flats with a kitchen, sitting room, and bathroom,” read the council minutes.

Mr Sipho Ndebele chairman of the Jabulani Flats residents association

“The infrastructure had recently been refurbished through the ward retention fund after years of neglect. The flats, now in pristine condition, have been fitted with solar geysers and given a modern outlook.”

According to the council minutes, Mr Khumalo said the council supported the transfer of the flats, citing similar conversions in other suburbs.

“It would be recalled that at independence the Central Government directed councils to convert rented residential properties to home-ownership schemes. The majority of tenants had applied for conversion to home ownership. However, a handful of tenants were yet to apply for home ownership,” reads the minutes. 

The council highlighted that similar 25-year and 40-year leases had been granted to tenants in Mpopoma, Iminyela, Tshabalala, and Mzilikazi Flats in 2004, and to New Magwegwe and Magwegwe North Flats in 2013.

The application for Jabulani Flats was circulated to council departments in September 2023 and no objections were raised. 

“This would be the same as all similar flats that had been converted. That the attached list of flats and the beneficiaries be granted 40-year leases subject to the usual terms and conditions of council, and that the signing of the leases be subject to paying off all monies owed to the council,” minutes further noted.

Ms Maria Maphosa, a resident of Jabulani Flats

In interviews, residents expressed relief and anticipation, having long awaited the transfer of their homes to ownership.

Ms Angelina Mackay, the longest-serving resident, shared her story.

“This year, I’m turning 72, and we moved here in 1963 when I was 12 years old. My father, who worked for the council, was white, and my mother was MaKhumalo. Back then, these flats were allocated to mixed-race families. It’s only fair that the houses are transferred to us now. We’ve lived here our entire lives,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Sipho Ndebele, who moved into the flats in 1981, said home ownership would guarantee housing security for their children and grandchildren.

“We have been paying bills for this place for decades I think it can only be fair that the homes are transferred to us. It would be an inheritance for our children. For years, we’ve applied to the council for this, but we’ve received no feedback until now,” he said. 

Ms Maria Maphosa, whose family moved into the flats in 1968, echoed similar sentiments.

“Without title deeds, you’re never truly secure. You can easily be evicted. Title deeds would secure the future of our families. We’ve raised our children and grandchildren here, and it would give us peace of mind to know that we own these homes,” she said.–@nqotshili

 

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