Residents in Rooihuiskraal and The Reeds have welcomed the Tshwane metro’s recent service delivery efforts during the Re A Spana campaign in Ward 64, praising visible improvements to roads, streetlights and general public spaces.

The Re A Spana campaign is an accelerated service delivery programme aimed at improving public spaces through clean-up operations, maintenance work and by-law enforcement.

The latest intervention took place on March 13, when municipal teams focused on pothole patching, streetlight repairs, grass cutting, tree pruning, and enforcing municipal by-laws.

Residents say the impact of the work has already made a noticeable difference in their daily lives.

Rooihuiskraal resident Jonathan Woodley expressed his satisfaction with the pothole repairs carried out in several parts of the suburb, including Kraanvoël Drive and Hofsanger Road.

Woodley said he was particularly impressed with the municipality’s use of a jet patcher, noting that it appears to be a more effective and durable solution.

“The use of the jet patcher is a big improvement. The repairs look much more solid, and the results seem like they will last longer than previous fixes,” he said.

He added that potholes have long been a major concern for motorists in the area, often making driving conditions difficult and, at times, hazardous.

Woodley explained that many streets across Rooihuiskraal have been affected, forcing drivers to slow down significantly or swerve to avoid damage to their vehicles.

He said the recent repairs have helped restore safer and smoother driving conditions, something residents have been calling for a long time.

In The Reeds, resident Ashley Barker also welcomed the improvements, particularly the repair of streetlights along Uitsig Road.

Barker said the difference was immediately noticeable when travelling at night.

“I drove along Uitsig Road on Wednesday, and the visibility is so much better now. The road is properly lit again, which makes a huge difference,” she said.

She stated that the lack of lighting previously made the area feel unsafe and uncomfortable for motorists.

Barker explained that with the streetlights now functioning, driving at night no longer feels as daunting, and there is a greater sense of security for residents using the route after dark.

Ward 64 councillor Alta de Kock said the Re A Spana campaign had yielded positive results across the ward, particularly in addressing long-standing service delivery concerns.

She noted that municipal teams managed to repair numerous potholes using jet patchers and also cleared and fixed several stormwater drains that had previously been blocked and reported by residents.

De Kock said progress had also been made in restoring streetlights, highlighting that lights along Uitsig Road from Kestrel Avenue to Maraboe Avenue in Rooihuiskraal were repaired during the March 13 intervention. Additional repairs between Kestrel Avenue and Rooihuiskraal Road were carried out on March 17.

She acknowledged that streetlight outages have been a persistent issue in the ward, with many lights having been non-operational for an extended period.

According to De Kock, most of the streetlights had not been working since November 2023.

“The municipality usually provides little feedback on repair delays. In response to the lack of updates, I created a Google spreadsheet to allow residents to report faulty streetlights.”

She said complaints are frequent, with issues being raised several times a day.

De Kock also raised safety concerns, explaining that poorly lit streets have contributed to criminal activity in the area.

She noted that suspects often take advantage of the darkness, particularly individuals known as ‘wall jumpers’.

She recalled an incident that occurred on March 14, when a suspected intruder was caught on a property in Blue Jay Street with the assistance of Monitor Net Security.

Despite these challenges, De Kock said she is encouraged by the recent progress.

“I am happy with the repairs that have been done so far, especially on the streetlights. It is a step in the right direction,” she said.

She added that efforts are ongoing to address the remaining issues, including work under a community upliftment precinct initiative, although the process is still underway.

De Kock reassured residents that resolving the streetlight problem remains a priority, noting that safety concerns, particularly at night, are taken seriously.

“I understand how residents feel because I experience the same thing when driving home in the dark after meetings. It is not acceptable, and we are working to improve it,” she said.

She also expressed appreciation for the role played by security companies and community policing forums, saying their continued presence has been crucial in maintaining safety in the area.

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