Since 2015 there has been a mushrooming of illegal settlements on portions of lands in Mashishing, Sabie and Graskop.

According to a media statement released by TCLM on Thursday, these invasions are continuing at an alarming rate and adversely affect the municipality’s plans to finalise the formalisation process of these areas into proper townships.

The invasions are extensions to already mapped-out settlements, which disturb the pegging process for roads and other infrastructure.

TCLM strongly condemned the continuing illegal land invasions and urged members of the public to desist from engaging in such activities.

The municipality included the formalisation of all informal settlements in its integrated development plan and has obtained approval from the Department of Human Settlements for most of them.

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Progress has been achieved in terms of land development and security of land tenure by the municipality, which includes the following areas:

Mashishing Area C: Extension 9 and 10

The Department of Human Settlements has approved the municipality’s request to formalise Extension 9 and 10 in Mashishing, popularly known as Marikana and River View. 

The department appointed the Capstan Group of companies which conducted a socioeconomic study in the area and subsequently a formalisation approval was granted by the department. 

Pegging of the approved township is underway and it is anticipated to be concluded by early January. However, due to the constant invasions there might be further delays because of difficulty in pegging and trying to ensure that the roads allocated are not blocked by the new informal dwellers.

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Graskop Hostel

The formalisation of the Graskop Hostel area has been approved after the appointed service provide conducted all the necessary studies, including the geo-technical and contour surveys.

The proposed township layout was presented to the community and partial approval was granted by the Municipal Planning Tribunal subject to the submission of requested additional information.

Upon final approval, pegging will commence and the township register will be opened.

Simile (Nkanini)

Like the Graskop Hostel project, all the necessary studies and township layout plans have been submitted and final approval is awaited to enable pegging and the opening of the township register.

Harmony Hill Extension 2

The Department of Human Settlements has approved the formalisation of Harmony Hill Extension 2 in Sabie, known as Phola Park.

The Capstan Group was appointed to conduct all the necessary studies including the environmental impact assessment and the township establishment process.

The township was pegged and final approval of the general plan and the opening of the township registers is awaited. The next phase will be installation of basic services, which will be followed by housing development and selling of surplus erven.

Leroro Township rectification

The municipality funded the township rectification project in Leroro areas A and B.

The township rectification process is underway at Leroro. An aerial photo was prepared, and a contour survey and fence/ boundaries verification were done.

The draft survey diagrams were approved by the municipality. Pegging for Leroro B should have been concluded by the end of 2020.

Spekboom

TCLM has concluded a socioeconomic study to ascertain the number of people residing in Spekboom to enable the formulation of a settlement strategy.

Development in the area is being hampered by the fact that the community had settled on land privately owned by the Lutheran Church, which limits the municipality from providing services.

The municipality also concluded valuations of the property to initiate the acquisition of the land on behalf of the community.

Discussions are under way between TCLM and the landowners for the possible acceptance of the offer.

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Brondal

Like the Spekboom situation, the Brondal community also settled on privately owned land.

A socioeconomic study was conducted to enable development of a settlement strategy. A feasibility study was also conducted to find a suitable site to resettle the community, which was found around the existing clinic.

The Department of Human Settlements was engaged to purchase the land on behalf of the community. Negotiations are at an advanced stage and finalisation is imminent.

TCLM said it understood the frustrations of the public regarding human settlement challenges. However, the illegal invasion of land will reverse all the gains made thus far to formalise the informal settlements.

The invasion also stretches the already strained capacity of the municipality to provide basic services to the community, due to the illegal connections of water and electricity in these informal settlements.