BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE- A total of 127 purchasers of Government-owned properties sold through the Siteki Town Council have been reminded to settle outstanding balances amounting to E2.93 million or make written representations to avoid possible cancellation of their sale agreements and recovery of the properties by Government.
The reminder comes through a public notice issued by the Siteki Town Council to purchasers who acquired Government properties through the municipality. According to the notice, the properties were sold on behalf of Government under agreements requiring purchasers to pay the full purchase price within five years, or 60 months, from the date of signing their Deeds of Sale.
However, the notice indicates that a number of purchasers have not complied with this requirement, with some having paid only their initial deposits while others have made partial payments over the years.
The listed purchasers collectively owe E2.92 based on the outstanding balances published by the Council.
The notice gives the affected purchasers 30 days from the date of publication to either settle their full outstanding balances, together with any applicable fees under their sale agreements, or submit written representations supported by documents explaining why their properties should not be returned to Government.
The Council has stressed that the notice is intended to give affected purchasers an opportunity to regularise their positions rather than immediately lose their properties.
The potential consequences, however, are significant for those who fail to respond or settle their accounts within the prescribed period. The Council says any purchaser who fails to respond or settle the outstanding balance may have their sale agreement cancelled in accordance with the Crown Land Disposal Regulations, 2003, and the terms of the agreement.
Government and the Council would then proceed with the recovery of the property and may allocate or dispose of it in accordance with the law.
The largest outstanding balances are concentrated among purchasers listed under the more recent 2022 allocations.
Ntokozo Dlamini, for instance, has an outstanding balance of E65 000, while Sibongile Simelane owes E63,000 and Joice Khumalo has an outstanding balance of E61 500.
Several other purchasers have balances of E60,000 each. These include Dumsile Shongwe, Methula Noobile, Dorris Dlamini and Sarah Dlamini. Baphelele Dlamini and Majori Mavimbela each have outstanding balances of E57,000, while Sifiso Manyatsi owes E55 000.
The 2022 allocations account for E1.36 million of the total outstanding amount, while purchasers from the 1997 allocations collectively owe about E1.57 million.
Some of the older accounts have remained substantially unpaid. Among the 1997 purchasers, several still owe the full E22 000 purchase price, including purchasers whose listed balances show no reduction from the original amount.
The Council has provided its offices as the point of contact for affected purchasers to submit proof of payments or representations. Purchasers are therefore encouraged to check their records and engage the Council within the stipulated period if they believe their balances do not accurately reflect payments already made.
The notice serves as an important opportunity for the affected property owners to resolve their accounts before enforcement measures are taken.
For purchasers who have already made payments but whose records may not reflect those transactions, the Council has specifically requested representations and supporting proof of payment.
(Courtesy Pic)
