Billionaire Johann Rupert helped to give 21,000 properties to poor South Africans

Billionaire Johann Rupert, through the Khaya Lam project, has helped to transfer 21,000 municipal properties to residents across South Africa.

The Free Market Foundation (FMF) launched the Khaya Lam land reform project in 2010 to advance private property ownership in the country.

The project is centred on strengthening freehold titling on municipal properties, typically in poorer areas.

It works with municipalities, conveyancers, and private sponsors to transfer formal ownership, in the form of title deeds, to municipal residents.

Because private sponsors fund each transfer, which costs R3,750, the process comes at no cost to the municipal resident.

Since its inception, Khaya Lam has helped transfer more than 21,000 municipal properties to residents in South Africa.

It revived R3.15 billion in dead capital. A homeowner with secure, formal ownership can lease, sell, or improve their property.

They can also use it as collateral to finance a new business venture, thereby injecting liquidity into the property market.

Beyond these economic benefits, formal ownership also restores the dignity that comes with having a place to call one’s own.

Ayanda Zulu, a policy officer at the Free Market Foundation, said that Johann Rupert made a significant donation to Khaya Lam in 2019.

This donation enabled the project to undertake many of the title deed transfers completed since then.

More recently, he recapitalised the project, helping to ensure that thousands more disadvantaged South Africans can enjoy formal property ownership.

“The Free Market Foundation is indebted to Rupert and the financial institutions, private companies, and charitable foundations who supported the project,” Zulu said.

“Their support is a reminder that meaningful land reform is not the exclusive preserve of the state.”

“It can also be realised through private partnerships that expand secure property ownership.”