PRETORIA, Gauteng — The City of Tshwane housing backlog remains a critical focus for the municipal leadership as the multi-party coalition reviews its two-year performance just weeks before the local government elections. While thousands of qualifying families have been relocated from informal settlements to permanent stands, Human Settlements MMC Aaron Maluleka acknowledges that significant challenges regarding sanitation, title deeds, and access to well-located land persist.
Coalition Performance and Political Review
With local government elections approaching, the multi-party coalition governing the capital has taken stock of its performance. Deputy Mayor Modise emphasized that political differences must remain in the boardroom, ensuring a crystal-clear mandate for public service. However, Modise admitted the executive has fallen short in job creation, though efforts have begun.
The coalition’s record has drawn mixed reactions. Civic organization Sanko argued that the government has failed residents, alleging that the coalition has enriched specific individuals while leaving vulnerable populations poorer. Sanko also highlighted unresolved corruption allegations, specifically mentioning names linked to past corrupt activities.
A political analyst noted that while the coalition has stabilized the city compared to other contested metros, the municipality’s financial situation has not fully recovered, resulting in a qualified audit rather than a clean one from the Auditor-General. The analyst also pointed out that the current model, where the mayor comes from a small party, is not ideal for sustainable development.
Housing Relocation and Incremental Development
Addressing the housing crisis, MMC Aaron Maluleka confirmed that over 4,000 qualifying families have been moved from informal settlements to permanent stands. The department is utilizing an “incremental development” approach, which involves identifying suitable land, conducting engineering work, finalizing layouts, and securing electricity grids through Eskom before relocating residents.
Key relocation efforts include:
- Mamelodi: Successfully relocating 1,500 victims from the Modi flats who were living near floodlines and river banks.
- Hammanskraal: Executing similar relocations in the area.
- Gomora West: Relocating 8,100 people.
In areas like Pomelong in Mamelodi, the city is providing temporary rudimentary services while permanent infrastructure is finalized. Maluleka stressed that these temporary measures are not intended to last for a decade. The department is currently spending all allocated housing grants within a three-year financial cycle, investing in reservoirs and extensive sewer networks.
Furthermore, the city is tackling the historical backlog of residents who have been on the waiting list with approved forms and green slips since 1999, while also prioritizing backyard dwellers.
Urban Regeneration and Illegal Townships
To revitalize the Central Business District (CBD), the city is repurposing old, derelict buildings for social housing and student accommodation. Partnering with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and utilizing the city’s entity housing company, the initiative aims to provide dignified living spaces for students and the “missing middle” workforce.
Maluleka also highlighted 17 private-sector-driven housing opportunities bringing R400 billion into the city, focusing on affordable rental options near industrial parks and economic hubs.
However, rapid urbanization has led to the proliferation of illegal townships. Maluleka noted that 17 illegal townships have been established across the city without proper procedures, often in environmentally sensitive areas like floodlines. The city is engaging these developers to ensure compliance with the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). To prevent over-concentration in the CBD, the city plans to decentralize economic and housing opportunities to regions like Mabopane and Soshanguve.
Sanitation Solutions and the Water Tanker Crisis
A major challenge remains the provision of basic services. Currently, 6,300 chemical toilets are being serviced twice a week across 114 informal settlements, costing the city R100 million. Maluleka described this reliance on plastic and chemical toilets, as well as water tankering, as unsustainable and undignified.
To combat this, the city collaborated with the Deputy Minister of Sanitation in Region 5 to launch durable, affordable alternative sanitation infrastructure.
Addressing the controversial “water tanker mafia” and the high costs of outsourced water delivery, the city is shifting its strategy. The municipality is purchasing its own fleet of water tankers and installing communal taps to ensure reliable water access. Furthermore, in response to the Auditor-General regarding non-revenue water, the city is installing bulk meters to ensure strict accountability for every liter of water provided to communities.
Through these combined efforts, the City of Tshwane aims to restore dignity to its residents while systematically dismantling informal settlements and upgrading municipal infrastructure.
