With more than 1 100 properties earmarked for transfer to Ward 92 residents, an initiative to streamline the process has already assisted several residents free of charge.
Ward 92 councillor Norman Adonis says SP Attorneys have partnered with his office to assist residents with free wills and estate late packages, which assists them in rounding up the estates of a deceased partner or owner.
“When we started with the delayed transfers, I discovered that most of the owners or partners have passed and they were complaining of long waits at the Master’s Offices,” says Adonis.
The forms required for this, especially where properties have increased in value above R500 000, require a legal document, which costs thousands of rands.
Adonis says with the number of unemployed and pension-reliant residents, it is not possible for them to seek the assistance of an attorney to complete this process.
Last month, more than 200 people were assisted, with another session hosted at the Olifantshoek Hall in Tafelsig on Wednesday 18 October.
“Most of the people in my ward now have wills and that is great,” says Adonis.
Alice Solomons (71) says she has been to the Master’s Office six times and has been sent from one point to another for documents, with no assistance.
She says she had walked from Parow to Belville and another location, only to be sent back to another office. She has lived in her home for 41 years and after her husband had passed away, the property now needs to be transferred to her.
“This service allows the residents to come and have all the documents filled in, with the other documents they need and then just take it in. It will help to streamline the process at the Master’s Office,” says Adonis.
