North residents confront Tshwane officials at imbizo

Residents of Pretoria North filled the Hoërskool Gerrit Maritz hall on May 21 for a mayoral imbizo hosted by Tshwane mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya and mayoral committee members.

The engagement formed part of the metro’s accountability and service delivery outreach efforts.

Moya reiterated her administration’s commitment to transparency and responsiveness.

“We are the mayoral executive that is ready to account. We are here to listen to the service delivery concerns of our residents,” she said.

Residents came prepared to hold the metro to account on a range of pressing issues, including crime, corruption within municipal departments, failing infrastructure, and lack of basic services in some parts of the community.

One of the most explosive concerns raised came from a resident who alleged deep-rooted corruption within the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD).

He claimed that some of the TMPD officers routinely solicit bribes from motorists caught violating traffic regulations, often asking for as little as R20 to avoid issuing fines or making arrests.

“We cannot continue like this. These officers are supposed to uphold the law, not break it. We feel helpless, and people who should be protecting us are the ones abusing their power.”

Moya acknowledged the gravity of the allegations and committed to a full investigation.

“This is a serious matter. If TMPD officers are demanding bribes, we will not protect them. We will follow up and ensure that consequence management takes place,” she said.

The corruption allegations added to an already long list of frustrations expressed by attendees.

Among the repeatedly raised issues were recurring power outages, uncollected waste, poor road maintenance, and lack of visible policing in certain crime-ridden areas.

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Residents from nearby informal settlements complained about the lack of basic services such as running water, toilets, and regular refuse collection.

Another topic that featured prominently was infrastructure decay.

Residents pointed to pothole-riddled roads, malfunctioning traffic lights, and broken stormwater drains as evidence that the metro has neglected Pretoria North.

Mpho Mehlope said the metro must be harsh on those people harbouring backyard dwellers in the area.

Martha van Zyl, a resident of Pretoria North for over 30 years, said it was the first time she felt like the metro was listening to them.

“But what happens next is what matters.”

Thabiso Modiba, a local driver, said, “We’ve been complaining about the same potholes for two years.

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“We don’t want another talk shop, we want tar and teams on the ground.”

“I appreciate that the mayor came here personally,” added Cynthia Mokoena, a parent from Ward 98.

“I hope she comes back when these issues have been fixed, not just when there’s pressure.”

Ward councillors in attendance used the opportunity to echo the voices of their constituents, urging the mayoral committee members present to take these concerns seriously and respond with urgent action.

While the imbizo allowed residents to voice their frustrations, some acknowledged the effort by the mayor to engage the community directly.

Moya concluded the meeting by assuring residents their grievances had been heard and that a report-back session would be held within the coming months to update communities on progress.

Ward 98’s Dana Wannenburg said the issues residents have raised are long-standing and have reached critical levels, severely impacting the quality of life in the community.

“Our communities are experiencing persistent water shortages, with residents enduring days without access to water. This is unacceptable and demands urgent, sustainable solutions.

“Raw sewage flows openly in several areas due to broken infrastructure, posing severe health risks. The municipality must prioritise the repair and upgrading of the sewerage network,” said Wannenburg.

He said waste collection has become irregular and unreliable.

“Illegal dumping is on the rise, leading to unsafe and unsanitary conditions across the wards. Power outages and cable theft are frequent. There is a lack of maintenance on streetlights, and some areas remain in darkness for months.

“Our roads are riddled with potholes, and the stormwater drainage system is in a poor state, increasing the risk of flooding during the rainy season. There is insufficient enforcement of municipal by-laws, resulting in lawlessness, including illegal businesses, noise pollution, and unchecked vagrancy,” he said.

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