Sectional Titles Amendment Bill [31B-2020]

Hon. Members, hearings for this Bill brought out the daily lived experiences of
sectional title owners, their frustration and call for urgent amendments.
The limited scope for this Bill related specifically to registration and surveying issues
hence, most provinces were on the backfoot with policy issues, e.g. building
maintenance which is for the Section Title Schemes Management Act in Human
Settlements and the Title Deeds fast–tracking for the Electronic Deeds Registration
Act; so there’s work for other departments pursue.
However, a burning policy issue which needs to be reviewed for inclusion by the
Sectional Titles Council and Registration Board is the use of “architectural
technologists” as many previously disadvantaged persons are technologists whose
professional authority needs recognition, to lower costs of plan drawings. Similarly,
the Banking Association of South Africa’s suggestions must be considered by policy–
makers.
Hon Speaker, KwaZulu–Natal’s suggestions were not considered because these also
require policy review.
The Minority Front notes with concern that although many amendments have time
and cost implication on owners but this Act was never amended from 1986, hence
the scope needs to be extended for more amendments on the next round, however
the MF supports a vote in favour of current amendments at the NCOP select
committee.