By Ald Aaron Maluleka
MMC for Human Settlements
The City of Tshwane continues to advance efforts aimed at improving service
delivery, restoring dignity and advancing spatial justice in communities such as
Koanong Proper and Kopanong Extension 1.
As part of this work, the MMC for Human Settlements, Ald. Aaron Maluleka, led an
in loco inspection of the areas, where the delegation assessed conditions across
Sections A, B, C and D, which have been significantly affected by land invasions.
Koanong Proper and Kopanong Extension 1 were previously administered under the
Madibeng Local Municipality before being incorporated into the City of Tshwane.
Together, the areas consist of approximately 2,900 low-cost housing stands, with basic engineering services including water, sanitation, roads and stormwater infrastructure initially installed by the North West Provincial Government.
The formalisation and servicing of communities such as Koanong Proper and
Kopanong Extension 1 form part of the City’s broader commitment to spatial justice by ensuring that historically neglected communities are fully integrated into the urban fabric of Tshwane and are able to access reliable municipal services, secure tenure and improved living conditions.
Progress in fully formalising and servicing the areas has, however, been affected by
several longstanding challenges.
These include delays in obtaining the necessary Power of Attorney from the North West Housing Corporation, irregular occupation patterns where some residents occupy multiple stands, and encroachments onto road reserves.
These challenges have placed significant pressure on existing infrastructure and contributed to ongoing service delivery issues, including illegal sewer connections, pipe leakages and recurring sewer blockages.
Construction of water and sewer infrastructure for approximately 1,000
stands commenced in 2015.
To date, water installations are
approximately 95% complete, while sewer installations have reached around 85%
completion.
The remaining work includes final testing and commissioning of the systems, as well as completion of an outstanding sewer outfall section measuring 200 mm x 700 mm.
In an effort to resolve layout and design challenges, the City of Tshwane appointed a
contractor on 17 July 2020 to review township layouts, update engineering designs and finalise service installations.
Although the project officially commenced on 3 September 2020, implementation was delayed by difficulties in accessing historical project information, securing layout approvals and obtaining required documentation from the landowner.
Following the inspection and engagements with relevant stakeholders, it was agreed
that the outstanding water and sanitation services for the remaining 1,000 stands will now be prioritised for completion.
The township proclamation process will also proceed to enable the transfer of stands
to qualifying residents, an important step towards formal ownership, tenure security
and long-term stability in the affected communities.
For many residents, township proclamation and access to formal services represent
far more than administrative processes.
They are about restoring dignity, creating
certainty for families and ensuring that communities are no longer left on the margins of development and municipal planning.
Once the proclamation process has been concluded, the City will be in a better
position to determine the appropriate interventions required in Sections A, B, C and D, particularly in relation to the impact of land invasions and associated infrastructure pressures.
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