Daily struggle with basic services for Jwagga informal settlement

Residents of Jwagga informal settlement in Klerksoord have raised concerns over what they describe as ongoing service delivery challenges, including limited access to water, inadequate sanitation, illegal dumping, blocked drainage, and uncertainty surrounding a long-awaited relocation project.

Community members told Rekord they have repeatedly raised these concerns with the Tshwane metro over the years, calling for additional water taps, more toilets, improved waste management, better road access, and clearer communication regarding their future.

Community leader Tshepo Raseropo said the lack of basic services continues to affect residents’ daily lives.

“We need service delivery. We are not pigs, we are human beings. So, the city must come and clean the place while we are still waiting for relocation,” said Raseropo.

Residents also raised concerns about access to water, claiming that a single communal standpipe serves hundreds of households.

“You wait for one hour to fetch water,” said resident Thabo Aphane, adding that long queues become even more challenging during emergencies.

In response to Rekord’s enquiry, metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said basic services are currently provided at the settlement.
According to him, residents have access to one standpipe, while eight chemical toilets are serviced twice a week.

Mashigo added that expanding basic water and sanitation services would depend on additional budget allocations.

The metro also confirmed that residents of Jwagga informal settlement are expected to benefit from serviced stands that will be developed through the Andeon Ext 37 project. A contractor was appointed on August 15, 2024, on a three-year contract to construct water and sewer reticulation infrastructure.

Regarding previous relocation plans, Mashigo said funding had been approved for the township establishment of Ext. 32 but noted that the project “was not specifically allocated for the relocation of the Jwagga community”. It was also not completed due to technical challenges and budgetary constraints.

The metro said its current plan is to relocate residents to Andeon Ext 37 and further communication on the project’s progress will be provided in due course.

Ward 98 councillor Mickey van der Westhuizen confirmed receiving a memorandum from residents outlining their concerns and said he has since escalated the matter to the relevant municipal departments.

“Yes, I received the memorandum directly from the residents. Since then, I have escalated the issues to the relevant regional officials and municipal departments,” explained Van Westhuizen.

He said one of the main obstacles has been delays in investigations and responses from the departments responsible for implementing service delivery interventions.

“As the ward councillor, I can raise issues, escalate complaints and follow up continuously, but implementation depends on the responsible departments carrying out necessary investigations,” said Van der Westhuizen.

The councillor added that he had engaged with the metro’s Waste Management Department regarding illegal dumping and requested that bins or a skip be provided to the settlement. He said the Roads Department had already graded the access road following his engagements, while feedback from the Water and Sanitation Department on requests for additional water points is still outstanding.

On the relocation of residents, Van der Westhuizen said the matter falls under the MMC for Human Settlements and the Department of Housing, adding that he had requested the department to engage directly with the affected community on the project’s status and future plans.

“My message to residents is simple: I will continue advocating for you and knocking on every door until someone answers. I will not allow these concerns to be forgotten,” said Van der Westhuizen.

He also called on the metro to respond openly to the issues raised by the community.

“I believe acknowledging problems is the first step toward solving them. Ignoring or downplaying legitimate concerns does not improve service delivery or help the residents who are living with these challenges every day,” he said.

For residents such as Aphane, however, the priority remains improved living conditions while they wait for permanent housing.

“They must come to talk to the community and update us about where we are going to be relocated and when. If we are still waiting for more years, at least they must help us with the issues that we are facing,” said Aphane.

Raseropo echoed the call for greater engagement between the metro and the community, saying residents want certainty about their future and regular updates on the relocation process.

For now, residents say their hope is not only for permanent housing, but also for greater engagement from the metro and tangible progress on the concerns they have raised over the years.

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