Members of the EFF and the DA disrupted the process during which the MEC for Coghsta, Makoma Makhupetje, handed over title deeds to residents of Tshikota a fortnight ago.

The MEC started off by visiting three houses where she handed over title deeds to the owners. The delegation then proceeded to the Tshikota community hall, where community members were waiting to receive over 900 title deeds.

The initiative formed part of an effort by Coghsta to try and restore dignity to the poor as some families still continue to be evicted from their properties. When the MEC addressed the community, she urged the residents to protect and respect their title deeds as these are their security.

Ms Makhupetje warned those people with money not to take advantage of the poor title deed owners and steal their properties. “No one can evict you anymore; this is your licence. This also means an end to houses being sold with people inside them,” she said.

The MEC reminded residents that the history of Tshikota was also a history of forced removals. Some four decades ago, residents were removed against their will to areas such as Vleyfontein and Madombidzha.

Among the 1 154 houses at Tshikota, 906 title deeds have already been registered and endorsed.

Members of the EFF and the DA were very vociferous and demanded that the MEC hand over all title deeds in the presence of community members. They started singing and chanting and the police later had to remove them from the stage while escorting the MEC away.

The local DA councillor, Masilo Mampashe, criticized the MEC for handing over some title deeds at the houses of people. The unhappy residents wanted to know why only these houses had been selected.

One of the recipients of a title deed, Ms Ouma Manganyi, said that she had been staying in her house since 2001. “It is only now that I really understand what a title deed is. I was not informed as to how it works. I did not know its importance. I was comfortable and believed that it was my house,” she said.

She said that she was going to sit down with her children and explain to them the importance of a title deed and why it was important to keep it safe. “My next step is to take all their birth certificates and go and do the honourable thing of registering all my children as beneficiaries if I pass on,” she said.