Johannesburg – South Africans in rural areas and townships can now realize the value of their home investments through E-DEED, a blockchain-powered digital solution that certifies property values, providing homeowners with secure, recognised proof of ownership and improvement.
“Homeowners in these communities have poured immense resources into their properties, building not just homes but also rental units and other income-generating structures,” said GG Alcock of KasiNomics, a co-founder of E-DEED.
“For example, using our E-DEED evaluation technology in 2010, the value of Soweto’s houses was over R103 billion, by 2024, it reached R116 billion.
“That’s a R13 billion increase, not in appreciation but in physical investment in improving and extending homes.
“Across a sample of 13 townships, the value of houses in 2010 was R237 billion; by 2024, this grew to R277 billion, a R40 billion investment by homeowners.
“This valuation process can now be done by E-DEED on a home-by-home basis.
“However, the value they’ve created remains largely unrealized because traditional valuation models fail to recognize these investments, and there have been no tools to do this evaluation. E-DEED changes that by providing a secure, accessible, and credible solution that allows homeowners to unlock the true value of their properties and leverage their assets for financial growth.”
Developed by Afrirent Holdings and KasiNomics, E-DEED tackles South Africa’s property rights challenges, which have long excluded millions from financial systems.
Despite homeowners investing heavily, often through stokvels, microloans, and incremental upgrades, banks and insurers rarely recognize these improvements, leaving properties undervalued and owners unable to access loans or insurance.
“Homeownership is a powerful driver of wealth, yet many struggle to unlock their property’s full potential. E-DEED provides a simple, transparent solution to establish value and access financial services,” Lance Chalwin-Milton, Co-Founder of E-DEED, said.
“For R300, homeowners gain recognized proof of worth – and the ability to insure their most valuable asset.”
E-DEED uses AI, satellite imagery, and blockchain to assess real market value, bridging the gap between informal ownership and formal finance. Homeowners can register properties online, submit documents and photos, and receive a certified valuation within 24 hours for a once-off fee of R300.
Senzo Tsabedze, Executive Group Chairman of Afrirent said: “E-DEED opens opportunities for township and rural homeowners, driving financial inclusion and wealth creation.
“This platform ensures they’re no longer excluded from the economy.”
With E-DEED, South Africa’s underserved homeowners can finally prove, protect, and prosper from their investments.
*This article first appeared in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za
