Infrastructure
With reference to the La Colline housing settlement in Stellenbosch, which belonged to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements up until 2024, after which the title deed of ownership was transferred to the Stellenbosch Municipality:
(1)(a) What is the agreement between the Stellenbosch Municipality and his Depart-ment, (b) how does this agreement affect the residents of La Colline and (c) what measures, if any, have been put in place to protect the residents of La Colline;
(2) the residents of La Colline were informed that their rental agreements would remain unchanged until at least August 2025, given that, (a) why have some residents received eviction notices and (b) why have some tenants been warned about a rent increase;
(3) whether the residents will be receiving sectional title deeds; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
- (a) The La Colline flats were transferred to the Stellenbosch Municipality in terms of sections 19(2) and 19(3) of the Western Cape Housing Development Act, Act 6 of 1999.
- The existing tenants and their lease agreements were transferred to the Stellenbosch Municipality together with the immovable property.
- In terms of the deed of alienation, the Stellenbosch Municipality can enter into new lease agreements with the existing tenants after a period of 12 months from the date of transfer.
- (a) The eviction notices were part of a process implemented prior to the transfer of the property. Once the ownership transferred to the Municipality, the State Attorney was instructed to withdraw the eviction notices.
(b) The increase in rental preceded the transfer of the property and the Stellenbosch Municipality needs to manage the property in terms of their own policy framework.
- The La Colline flats were transferred to the Municipality as rental stock. In terms of the deed of alienation, the Municipality will not sell the units without first consulting and obtaining prior approval from the Provincial Minister responsible for housing matters in the Province, which in-principle support has already been given. However, the Municipality has not yet decided on the disposal of the units.
