Advice and Opinion

Mapping technology can assist struggling municipalities

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology is revolutionising municipal property management. By delivering accurate, up to date information, GIS empowers local governments to make informed decisions.  

Mapping technology helps identify state-owned land, track property ownership changes, and streamline planning and revenue collection. For municipalities struggling to overcome service delivery challenges, and meet infrastructure needs, this technology provides a reliable solution for improving efficiency and accountability.  

Identifying state-owned land and infrastructure planning 

One of the key benefits of mapping technology is its ability to precisely identify state-owned land. This is vital for municipalities when planning infrastructure and housing developments. By pinpointing the exact locations of state-owned land, municipalities can effectively plan residential areas, converting informal settlements into formal neighbourhoods with essential infrastructure such as government subsidised RDP houses, roads, and utilities. 

For example, mapping technology allows municipalities to locate informal settlements on state-owned land and strategically plan their conversion into organised residential zones. This improves living conditions for residents and helps municipalities fulfil their service delivery mandates. 

However, challenges arise when residents move away, leading to uncollected revenue and issues like electricity theft. A robust property management system can maintain accurate records of property responsibility, ensuring consistent service provision and revenue collection. 

The challenge of title deeds 

A major issue for South African municipalities in peri-urban and rural areas is the lack of title deeds for many properties. Without proper ownership documentation, municipalities struggle to collect rates and taxes, essential for maintaining infrastructure and providing services. Inherited properties often lack updated title deeds, complicating revenue collection efforts. This problem is widespread, with many properties missing clear ownership records, leading to services being provided without corresponding revenue collection. 

For instance, when a resident inherits a property without a title deed, the billing remains in the deceased owner’s name. This complicates the municipality’s ability to collect rates and taxes, impacting both revenue collection and infrastructure planning. Accurate property records are necessary for planning and maintaining roads, utilities, and other services. Mapping technology can help address these issues by linking addresses to land parcels and title deeds, ensuring that ownership records are up-to-date and accurate. 

Future applications 

Looking ahead, the potential applications of mapping technology in property management are vast. Government entities will be better able to maintain and understand their properties. By identifying and utilising state-owned buildings instead of leasing from private companies, they can save costs and improve efficiency. This technology will also enable better management of state-owned farms, allowing the government to lease these properties to private companies while retaining ownership and generating revenue. 

Mapping technology can also facilitate the issuing of title deeds, enabling residents to pay rates and taxes and thereby increasing municipal revenue. This will lead to better service delivery, improved planning, and more sustainable development. Governments will be able to monitor new developments, plan infrastructure, and ensure compliance with property regulations, ultimately benefiting municipalities and residents. 

For instance, the government can use mapping technology to identify underutilised state-owned buildings and repurpose them for public use. This could include converting vacant buildings into affordable housing, community centres, or other public facilities. 

In agriculture, mapping technology can help the government lease state-owned farms to private companies while retaining ownership. In addition to generating revenue, this can also ensure that the land is used optimally for agricultural production. By maintaining control over state-owned agricultural land, the government can promote sustainable farming practices and support local food production. 

Successful implementations have shown its potential, and future applications will further transform municipal property management. Local government representatives must be encouraged to apply mapping solutions to improve service delivery, infrastructure planning, and sustainable development – in the interests of enhancing residents’ quality of life and creating more resilient communities.