Upliftment programmes rooted in civic duty and mutual benefit
As service delivery woes mount, residents in Pretoria east are being called upon to join CUPs to help reclaim and revitalise their neighbourhoods. However, the metro warns that the programme is not to make a profit or privatise public infrastructure.
With deteriorating public spaces and municipal resources stretched thin, residents in the east are being encouraged to step up and join community upliftment programmes (CUPs).
According to a Metro report, these initiatives aim to restore and maintain neglected community infrastructure.
However, community members are cautioned that these programmes are not a backdoor to business.
Magnolia Dell dam was recently revitalised through a community upliftment programme.
Ward Councillor Shaun Wilkinson explained that CUPs are often misunderstood or misused by applicants hoping to set up private commercial ventures under the guise of community improvement.
“If your aim is to set up a car wash, a container coffee shop or even a vape stand, you’re in the wrong place,” Wilkinson said.
“CUPs are not for profit-making. The metro rejects applications where public space is being privatised, fenced off or used for commercial gain.”
Wilkinson said CUPs are rooted in civic duty and mutual benefit, allowing residents to take part in the upkeep of public infrastructure like parks, sidewalks, pavements, and road islands.
“These initiatives form part of the metro’s broader ‘Stabilise, Revitalise and Deliver’ strategy aimed at encouraging urban regeneration.”
According to the report, the CUP policy is based entirely on voluntary participation and is designed for residents who want to see their neighbourhoods thrive.
“No one is forced to join,” said Wilkinson.
“However, those who do must follow the rules. The idea is consent-based and intended to foster collaboration, not control.”
Wilkinson said that in his ward, several CUPs have already been approved, including the revitalisation of Magnolia Dell Park and the dam.
He noted that residents did an excellent job of bringing the park back to life.
“Those being rejected often involve attempts to lease municipal properties for public use under the disguise of community upliftment,” Wilkinson explained.
Magnolia Dell dam was recently revitalised through a community upliftment programme.
East resident Helen Alpino supports the initiatives and is urging residents to join a CUP underway in Lynnwood Ridge.
This CUP aims to mobilise community efforts for upgrades and to install traffic calming signs in areas like Gloudina Street.
“We need more people to get involved. This can’t be a one-woman show,” Alpino said.
“CUPs are not just helpful, they’re necessary. With the metro struggling financially, it’s crucial that residents play a part in preventing our communities from falling apart.”
The report from the metro highlights that the metro’s ageing infrastructure, financial strain, and staffing shortages have led to declining maintenance of public areas.
According to the report, problems such as blocked drains, flooding, and unchecked vegetation pose health and structural risks.
It states that CUPs offer a legitimate, structured, and safe way for communities to address local needs while respecting non-commercial principles.
Residents interested in joining a CUP are encouraged to consult their ward councillor and submit a formal application to the Office of the City Manager.
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