Housing Security and Restoration Efforts Mark Mandela Month in JB Marks Municipality
- Karen Scheepers
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
As part of Mandela Month commemorations, the Department of Housing Development and Planning in the JB Marks Local Municipality undertook a set of housing-focused initiatives aimed at promoting security of tenure and restoring dignity for residents in the Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom regions.
These activities included the handover of title deeds to homeowners in selected areas and the refurbishment of a state-subsidised home, reflecting an effort to address long-standing housing needs through direct community engagement.
📍 Title Deeds Issued in Ventersdorp
On 31 July 2025, the municipality facilitated the distribution of property title deeds to residents in Extension 9 and Toevlug in Ventersdorp. The official handover was led by the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Housing Development and Planning, Cllr Adrë-Lee Swarts. The goal was to provide legal documentation of home ownership to qualifying individuals who had been awaiting formal recognition of tenure for extended periods.
Title deeds offer residents legal certainty and form a foundation for future investment in their properties. This move is part of a wider campaign by the municipality to formalize housing arrangements and strengthen community ownership structures across the region.
Residents in other parts of Ventersdorp will have an opportunity to collect their deeds from the Ventersdorp Municipal Offices, with collections set to begin on Monday, 03 August 2025. Full details are expected to be communicated through official municipal channels.
🔧 RDP House Renovation in Potchefstroom
Alongside the Ventersdorp program, a separate project in Extension 2, Potchefstroom saw the municipality undertake the renovation of an RDP house. The work included structural repairs such as window replacements, interior and exterior repainting, and toilet refurbishment, as well as clearing of the surrounding yard.
While affecting only one household at this stage, the initiative is seen as part of a broader push to enhance living conditions in government-built housing developments. It remains to be seen whether similar interventions will be rolled out more widely in response to ongoing maintenance backlogs.
🕊️ Service Delivery in the Spirit of Mandela Month
The timing of these housing-related efforts coincided with Mandela Month, observed nationally in July to encourage service, volunteerism, and community upliftment. The decision to align the title deed handovers and RDP upgrades with this period adds symbolic weight to the practical impact of the interventions.
Observers note that while the title deed distributions and renovations are steps in the right direction, much remains to be done to address housing infrastructure challenges in both Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom. Backlogs, informal settlements, and aging RDP stock remain persistent concerns that require long-term planning and sustained implementation.
👥 Community Engagement on the Ground
The title deed handovers in Ventersdorp were conducted in person, with the MMC for Housing Development and Planning, Cllr Adrë-Lee Rail Swarts, joined by Acting Director Mr. Moshe Legoete and a team of housing officials. The delegation visited households in Toevlug and Tshing Extension 09, delivering documentation and engaging with residents directly.
Images from the event show officials and community members marking the occasion with visible pride, underscoring the personal and communal significance of finally receiving ownership documents.
📞 Further Information
For residents with queries regarding title deeds or related housing issues, the following contact numbers for the Housing Division of the JB Marks Municipality were shared for public use:018 299 5776 / 5775 / 5779
As communities in Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom continue to face service delivery pressures, initiatives like these offer a glimpse of what’s possible when housing policy meets practical implementation. While challenges remain, the return of rightful ownership and the restoration of homes signal a positive step forward in promoting dignity and long-term stability for local residents.
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