Re A Spana aims to bring change to Brooklyn streets

The metro claims to have reclaimed public spaces, restored order, and improved service delivery in Brooklyn through its large-scale Re A Spana clean-up and enforcement campaign.

This forms part of the strategy to boost service delivery, uniting municipal departments and national partners to tackle urban decay and enforce by-laws in a key local area.

Kholofelo Morodi, MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, said the programme shows what is possible when all arms of government work together.

“This is not a once-off campaign, but a systemic shift towards visible, accountable and community-centred governance.”

According to Morodi, the metro wants residents to see and feel the change where they live and work.

She said Brooklyn was identified as a priority because of its strategic location within Pretoria and its significance as both a residential and commercial hub.

Over the years, the suburb has faced challenges including illegal land use, non-compliant businesses, public safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure.

“The metro deployed a cross-functional team of city departments and Home Affairs to tackle the issues.

“This coordinated effort saw officials repaint road markings, distribute waste bins, clear vegetation, enforce by-laws against illegal businesses, conduct immigration checks with Home Affairs, and carry out fire safety assessments.”

Morodi explained that all these interventions were funded within existing regional budgets, ensuring there were no additional costs to the city.

“Re A Spana shows what we can achieve with proper planning and collaboration. This initiative was not about spending more but about using what we already have more effectively,” she said.

Morodi said the metro has put in place several measures to sustain and build on the improvements.

She said weekly service delivery war room sessions are tracking progress and holding departments accountable for response times.

Regional operation centres have been activated to address backlogs such as potholes, water leaks, and streetlight repairs.

According to Morodi, a significant backlog in streetlight repairs has been identified in Brooklyn and is now being cleared.

“Road repairs and pothole fixes are also underway to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.”

She confirmed that similar interventions are being rolled out in other parts of the metro.

“We want to send a clear message that the metro is reclaiming spaces that have been neglected or taken over by lawlessness,” she said.

“Re A Spana is a key driver in restoring confidence in the metro’s ability to deliver and maintain services. It is about visible governance and operationalising our 100-Day Action Plan.”

Among the issues tackled in Brooklyn were unlicensed businesses, undocumented foreign nationals in the hospitality sector, and waste management gaps such as bin shortages and illegal dumping.

The campaign also addressed by-law violations and fire safety non-compliance.

“TMPD officers conducted raids on unlicensed businesses and removed illegal trading structures, while Home Affairs officials carried out documentation checks to enforce immigration laws,” Morodi explained.

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