MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following discussions in various council meetings regarding the challenges in the transfer of properties of low-income and indigent households, councillors feel Mossel Bay Municipality is moving in the right direction with the matter. 

The municipality currently has more than 2 900 deceased estate accounts in its debtors book. 

These are deceased estate accounts families have with the municipality, so they are what estates owe the municipality. 

In July, council resolved to investigate the transferring of properties of low-income earners and indigent persons to ensure certainty of property rights and thereafter, submit a full report to council. 

During the last council meeting for the year, on 28 November, an item on the matter contained feedback regarding this investigation. 

"The request was investigated and various challenges in the process have been identified, which include the cost for such a transfer, the documents required for the transfer, identifying the correct beneficiaries and obtaining their co-operation as well as the final transfer of the property after the estate has been dealt with." 

Despite these challenges, the municipality recognises the advantages in assisting these households to overcome these challenges. 

Advantages include that the municipality will be transacting with the correct, registered owner of the property, that the correct debt collection processes can be followed and that the municipality will have an updated database and the indigent subsidy will subsequently be allocated correctly. 

As a trial pilot project, it was proposed that five accounts be identified by the chief financial officer and the municipality's Revenue Services under the directorate, Financial Services. 

These five estates will be dealt with and the property transferred to the beneficiary. After the trial project a full report will be referred back to council to determine the viability of the project, going forward. 

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