The Johannesburg Deeds office is operational and services are being provided, although not at full capacity, despite reports that the office has been closed since February.

This was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, under which the deeds office falls. It was, however, in March announced that the office will relocate to another premises due to occupational and health safety issues.

This has not yet happened and departmental spokesperson Linda Page said it is not sure at this stage when they will relocate. “We are still awaiting a decision by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure,” she said. The department earlier this year predicted that the office would relocate to a suitable location around September.

Karla Strydom, a member of the Johannesburg Attorneys Association’s (JAA) property committee, also confirmed that the office is still in operation, although it is far from functioning at full capacity. On February 24, staff were evacuated from the building situated at Marble Towers due to the unsafe state of the building and staff protested.

On March 7, lodgements were again accepted at the office after eight days of no lodgments. Only a handful of staff chose to go back as others fear for their safety. Those who went back were overburdened and due to safety issues, they could only work in certain areas within the office. Some were given permission to work from home and the examiners take files with them, which they bring back each day, just to take more home.

The JAA wrote a letter to the department in April expressing its concern over the situation. Strydom said tenders for a new building went out in May and the JAA this week was notified that a new building was identified, but they are still awaiting formal notice in this regard.

Strydom said from the 170 staff members, very few are working on the building itself. This is causing about a three to five day delay after deeds are lodged, before they get registered. The delays may get longer, Strydom said, but this remains the current situation.

But these delays have a ripple effect, as it means a delay in obtaining clearing certificates from the council. New home buyers may not immediately be able to take occupation of their homes, as the shortage of staff means a delay in their properties being transferred.

Strydom said a lot turns round registration, as it is also linked to a bond and banks have certain turnaround times. Another big issue is that there is about a six or more weeks delay in capturing the details of new owners. Strydom said all these problems are because the building is non-compliant – something the JAA has warned about for a long time and nobody took them seriously. “I don’t know how much longer the people will be able to work under these conditions, but we are functioning well under the circumstances.” But, Strydom warned, the delays will only get longer if a new building is not earmarked soon.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

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