Tshwane mayor commits to phase 2 of Smart and Sustainable Cities Programme

A hydropower initiative at Salvokop and “green” transport were among the plans discussed to regenerate the inner city when the Tshwane mayor met with Denmark ambassador Tobias Elling Rehfeld earlier this week.

“Salvokop presents a special opportunity,” said mayor Randall Williams.

“It was selected because it is located close to transport stations which has different modes of transport.”

Williams said through Salvokop, there was an opportunity to integrate these transport modes and link Salvokop with the Pretoria CBD.

He said Salvokop provided an opportunity for a mixed-land use development, with offices, residential areas, possible retail outlets and restaurants, as well as heritage buildings.

“It also provides a great opportunity for locating previously disadvantaged communities closer to work opportunities in the CBD and locating them closer to different modes of public transport,” Williams said.

He said the Freedom Park Museum was an anchor in the development of Salvokop.

“This project has the potential to significantly change the urban landscape of the area through numerous initiatives which focus on sustainable development.”

The meeting came as a result public works and infrastructure minister Patricia de Lille announced an integrated precinct development initiative in Salvokop as part of the city’s inner city regeneration programme.

This development would see new government offices being developed and located closer to communities.

It was also expected to reduce the lease costs for government office accommodation.

StatsSA’s head office was the first property to be completed in the precinct in 2016.

The collaboration to develop Salvokop is a partnership between all spheres of government and the private sector.

De Lille said this collaboration was based on a directive issued by cabinet that confirmed the importance of government remaining within the inner Tshwane metro.

The Salvokop precinct development is one of five identified precincts within the inner city.

Phase one of the development would accommodate an additional four government head offices.

These are the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of Social Development and agencies and the Department of Home Affairs.

“This phase is expected to contribute an estimated R6.5-billion of blended financing,” she said.

“Given that we are the administrative capital of the country and host 123 embassies and high commissions, it was necessary to prioritise joint international programmes and projects like this one,” said Williams during the meeting.

He said metro hoped to share and learn from Denmark’s experiences regarding urban migration, strategies for policing and safety, crime prevention and dealing with drug addiction.

These discussions led to several such as technical visits and study tours and the training of officials through programmes, such as the Danida Masters Programme, including short courses on the green economy between 2017 and 2019.