The Johannesburg Deeds Office remains partially shut down, sparking a major financial crisis for estate agents and home sellers as thousands of property transactions are delayed indefinitely.
The Department of Employment and Labour ordered the closure in February 2025, citing safety concerns due to broken lifts and non-compliance with occupational health regulations. Although limited operations resumed briefly in March, full services remain suspended, and capacity is severely restricted.
Property practitioners say the disruption is devastating. The usual 6–12 week registration process has now doubled, leaving home sellers without access to sale proceeds—and agents without commission payouts. Jason Joffa from Lamna Bridging Finance described the situation as “a cash-flow crisis,” as over 5,000 transactions remain stalled in the system.
Attorneys and conveyancers are also under pressure, as the lack of face-to-face consultations with examiners has led to increased rejection rates and longer resubmission timelines. Some legal professionals have described the situation as “chaotic,” with errors taking weeks to correct under the limited capacity model.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development has announced temporary relocation plans, with a phased move to an interim facility expected by September 2025, and a permanent building by September 2026. However, officials have yet to provide firm dates for when operations will normalise.
To ease the burden, bridging finance firms are offering agents and sellers upfront access to a percentage of their pending commissions or property proceeds. These services, while helpful, come at a cost—and many stakeholders are calling for faster intervention by national government.
Article written by:
Hudaa Ahmed
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
