President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed various bills into law, key among them the bill that will enable property deeds to be processed electronically.

The president signed the Overvaal Resorts Limited Repeal Bill of 2019, the Property Practitioners Bill of 2019, the Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Bill of 2019, and the Film and Publications Amendment Bill.

Overvaal Resorts Limited Repeal Bill of 2019

"The Overvaal Resorts Limited Act Repeal Act repeals the Overvaal Resorts Limited Act of 1993, which established Overvaal Resorts Limited as a public company that would manage public resorts on behalf of government," said presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko.

The name of the company, Overvaal Resorts Limited, was later changed to Aventura Limited.

Cabinet took a decision in 2001 to dispose of the 14 Aventura resorts. Six unprofitable resorts were sold to different purchasers and eight were sold to Forever Resorts.

Difficulties were experienced in transferring the resorts to Forever Resorts as the new owner.

These difficulties were overcome by the eventual liquidation of Aventura, rendering the legislation that had established the original Overvaal Resorts Limited obsolete.

Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Bill of 2019

The Electronic Deeds Registration System Act provides for the development of an Electronic Deeds Registration System – also known as e-DRS – through which South Africa will take advantage of the benefits offered by internet access, e-commerce and global computerisation in the management of security of property title.

The new system will enable the electronic processing, preparation and lodgement of deeds and documents by conveyancers and the Registrar of Deeds.

"It will also enable the registration of large volumes of deeds effectively; improved turnaround times for providing registered deeds and documents to clients; countrywide access to deeds registration services; enhanced accuracy of examination and registration; availability of information to the public, and security features including confidentiality, non-repudiation, integrity and availability," said Diko.

This is set to greatly enhance security of title and the acquisition and disposal of fixed assets.

Property Practitioners Bill of 2019

The property market in the country also stands to gain from the newly signed Property Practitioners Act of 2019, which repeals the 43-year-old Estate Agency Affairs Act of 1976 (Act 112 of 1976).

"The Bill that the president has assented responds to the dynamic needs of the real estate industry and is aimed at improving the functioning of the property market, which includes regulating the buying, selling and renting of land and buildings," said Diko.

Among other innovations, the Act establishes a Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority and provides for the appointment of the Board of this regulatory authority.

The Act also puts in place better monitoring mechanisms, including requiring inspectors to obtain warrants to enter premises.

Supplied by: Business Tech