Councillors for Pretoria east areas such as Wapadrand, Equestria, Mooikloof, Moreletta Park, Rietfontein AH and Grootfontein still has a plan to better their ward, despite the hiccups encountered in 2023.

Ward 91 councillor Henning Viljoen said he had a challenging year navigating through crises such as water shortages, weekly power outages and informal settlement Plastic View demands and irate ratepayers.

Viljoen said however he was proud to have improved communication with the Tshwane senior management and residents.

Vijoen said he had succeeded in resolving several problems for residents.

He said his successes and benefits to residents were:

– Main feeder cables from Mooikloof to Moreleta Park were repaired avoiding further tripping after the load-shedding phases

– 70 streetlights were installed in Blesbok Street Rietfontein AH’s improving road and community safety

– Illegal dumping along Garstfontein Road was stopped with the constructions of roadside berms to deny trucks access in to the adjacent veld

– An action group was formed to prevent cable theft on Delmas Road.

– Eviction orders to all Rietontein AH’s squatters.

– Cable theft was eliminated on these same main feeder lines with the assistance of the SA Security Agency, with the installation of long-range cameras and clearing of vegetation along theft hotspots. This was done in partnerships with the Mooikloof Ridge Estate, Community Caring Forum (CCF) and Woodville Security Forum.

“A great example of community involvement in assisting Tshwane with service delivery issues.”

He said the rebuilding of the prior troubled Mooikloof substation progressed and completion was scheduled for October 2024.

“This would increase the capacity and reliability of power supply to a large portion of Pretoria East including wards 45, 47, 91 and 101.

Viljoen said he managed to establish a branch forum in the ward to assist the councilor with service delivery to residents.

“It will be his extra eyes and ears.”

He said some of the key challenges that ward 91 was experiencing and working on were pollution and noise arising from Plastic View.

He said the illegal dumping was rife due to a lack of waste management in the area.

“Squatting on private land in Rietfontein Agric Holdings has resulted in noise and air pollution, crime and illegal dumping.”

He said the condition of the roads in Riefontei AH’s and Bashewa was atrocious, while illegal business activity in contravention of building regulations and zoning rights, had to be dealt with.

He said the contraventions were particularly in peri-urban areas such as Grootfontein and Rietvlei View.

Viljoen said crime was not a major crisis in the ward apart from isolated incidents relating to cable theft.

He said ahead of 2024, he was hoping to achieve no power outage and relocate Plastic View and Rietfontein residents.

He also said he wanted to be harder on illegal dumping, pothole repairs, regular grass-cutting, waste removal and repair of streetlights.

He pleaded with east residents to remain patient.

“I would like to thank the residents for their patience and understanding of the service delivery challenges that faced our city, in particular during the time of the unlawful labour strike.

New Year, new opportunities and of course, new challenges. Let us take hands as a city to overcome these challenges and turn them into constructive opportunities, together.

I wish all a blessed festive season… a time of hope and faith for peace on earth.”

Ward 85 councillor Jacqui Uys said there were a lot of ups this year in her ward she led.

She said road upgrades in ward 85 were a priority.

“In Stellenberg, Meerlust and Meerlust Road extention, work has been completed while in Lynnwood road upgrades have just started and will be completed early next year.”

Uys said roadway improvements would benefit to future traffic flow while ensuring road surfaces were in good condition.

She said she was still concerned about potholes and streetlights in her ward.

“I believe that the newly implemented mayoral urban management plan will aid towards resolving these, we have seen improvements due to this plan across the city. I am very proud of the community that we have built, who invest in our area by offering their time and resources to make ward 85 better.”

Uys said crime was cyclical but working with the local CPF had helped.

“We hope to formalise this in the coming year with agreements between the forum and the city

We are currently working on memorandum of agreement between the city and the local community so community voice is better heard and needs implemented when it comes to both service delivery and safety.

I wish rest and peace to each resident of ward 85 during this festive season.”

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