By Lucky Sindane

MORE than 400 families in Green Village, Soweto, are now proud homeowners, with the formal handing over of title deeds by mayoral committee member for housing Strike Ralegoma.

The 411 families benefited from a project, initiated by the government last year, which led to the formation of two section 21 companies - Servcon and Thubelisha.

"Servcon identified bond defaulters and helped people rearrange their finances. Thubelisha then applied to the government for subsidies on behalf of these people. Land was then identified where the houses could be built and the deed then transferred to the new owners," said regional manager for housing region 6, Mavi Panyane.

The banks were brought on board to help process the project. Bank advisors checked residents' finances and came up with affordable repayment plans.

"We all know that failure to honour bond repayments resulted and still results in swift and immediate evictions with no due consideration of people's socio-economic conditions," said mayoral committee member responsible for housing, Councillor Strike Ralegoma.

The Green Village homeowners had been through the experience of having houses repossessed and being evicted for non-payment of their bonds. Under the Servcon and Thubelisha project these families were resettled in government houses, and now had the opportunity to repay manageable amounts on their bonds.

Handing over the title deeds, Ralegoma said: "You are no strangers to the humility and stress that these evictions caused you and your families. In certain instances it led to family break-ups, people were thrown to the streets with their furnisher and belongings and had nowhere to go."

In all 948 stands will be allocated by the end of the project, with 411 fully serviced housing units being handed over on Thursday 8 April, and the rest to be built later. "This is an ongoing project that will be completed in the not so distant future," said Ralegoma.

"Black-owned companies were given the tenders, with 25 of the 411 houses being built by a construction company owned by black women," said Panyane.

SOURCE: - joburg.org.za