Deeds Office moving

Due to a lack of space the Deeds Office will have to move from its current premises, the Central Government Building to the Marino Building, on the corner of Bosman and Pretorius Streets, in central Pretoria. The Surveyor General, currently housed in the same building, will also move with the Deeds Office and will also be accommodated in the Marino Building. The Public Works Department will take over the existing space when the Deeds Office and the Surveyor General leave.

Initially the move was going to take place from 16 December 2005 with the possibility that the Deeds Office would have been closed until 9 January 2006. The practical problems and consequences to the profession and public were pointed out to the Registrar. The Department of Land Affairs has reviewed the matter and decided that the planned move will not take three weeks as originally intended, but more likely only three working days depending on the circumstances. The change in procedure is welcomed and it is felt that it is not necessary for the Deeds Office to be closed for such a long time.

New equipment, furniture and shelving have been ordered by the Department, but it appears that it will not be ready for delivery in time during December. It is impossible for the Registrar at the moment to give an exact date when the move will take place, but it may only be in February or March 2006.

At this stage it is certain that the move will not take place in December and that it will not take three weeks but rather threeworking days. Further reports will follow in due course.

M J Ferreira