Deeds Registry closed due to Pietermaritzburg's water woes

Scores of property practitioners, some travelling long distances, were left frustrated on Wednesday when they arrived at the Deeds Registry office in Pietermaritzburg only to find that it had been closed for more than a week due to a water outage. 

The entity falls under the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DLRRD), and the only provincial office is in KwaZulu-Natal's capital. 

The Registry offers services such as registration or transfer of ownership of immovable property from a seller to a buyer, registration and cancellation of mortgage bonds against a property and is also registers various legal documents such as antenuptial contracts, deeds of servitude and sectional title plans.

It also examines all legal documents to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and legislation before registration.  

Msunduzi Municipality, in a statement released on Wednesday, said that the prolonged water outage affected also affected the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which is in the adjacent building. 

"The Municipality acknowledges the inconvenience this has caused to operations, staff and members of the public who rely on these facilities.

"Our technical teams have been deployed and are working continuously on site to identify the source of the problem and restore water supply as urgently as possible. 

"Further investigations are underway to determine the root cause of the disruption and to implement the necessary corrective measures to ensure a sustainable resolution," said spokesperson Ntobeko Ngcobo.

Some of the Deeds Registry employees on Wednesday said they get to work but leave after 9am, a daily occurrence since taps ran dry on February 11. 

Workers blamed the Msunduzi Municipality for the water cut-off. 

“We have not been working all these days because occupational, health and safety does not allow the office to operate where there is no water.

“Workers would report for duty at 8am and leave at 9am because there is no water to flush toilets,” said one of the employees. 

Sibonelo Radebe, an emerging businessman who drove 100 kilometers from uMzimkhulu to Pietermaritzburg, expressed his frustration with the wasted trip.

“If the municipality has a problem with providing water there should have been notices on radio and in newspapers because I wasted my petrol.

He had arrived at the offices hoping to change the details on a land title deed. 

However, Phumlani Vilane managed to get some assistance.

“I came here just after 8am only to find some workers leaving for the day. I told them that I was not going anywhere until I got help, and they called someone from elsewhere to help my father and I. 

“It really helped that I put my foot down, otherwise I would have come here for nothing,” said Vilane. 

Pietermaritzburg Conveyancers Association chairperson Harry McGregor on Wednesday said the association was involved in discussions to resolve the matter. 

“It would appear that we are getting closer to a resolution but it is still not resolved,” he said. 

He promised to issue a statement on Thursday morning.

“The Pietermaritzburg Conveyancers Association will respond and we will be able to let you know whether it (water problem) was resolved or whether we are taking further action and answer your specific questions. 

“My understanding is that further high-level negotiations and crisis meetings are underway,” said McGregor.

The DLRRD had not responded to questions.

A person with knowledge of the issues at the Deeds Registry, said the water issue was reported to the Msunduzi Municipality on 11 February 2026, again two days later and on 16 February. 

“Yesterday (February 16), they (the municipality) sent someone out to have a look and we have received feedback that they are unable to detect a leak and will carry on with investigations today (February 17),”  she said.

She said clients were not allowed to lodge new matters or register any matter but on Thursday there was an attempt to work after alternative measures were found to provide the building with water, but “this was short lived”. 

“On Friday we were permitted to register some of our matters, but not lodge matters.  

“Since yesterday (February 16) the registry has been closed and will remain closed until they have resolved the water issue. 

“In the meantime, it (water crisis) has brought the whole registration system to a complete halt.

“We have no indication of whether this is being treated with the urgency it deserves, nor of any sort of timeline by the municipality to address the issue,” she said.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za