Fresh produce market sees major budget increase

The metro says it has increased the budget for the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market by 50% since its first financial year ended in June.

This comes after the metro’s Economic Development and Spatial Planning Department submitted an affidavit to the High Court, detailing the work it has completed during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years.

On August 11, Judge Mmonoa Teffo of the High Court in Pretoria found the municipality was in contempt of court for failing to upgrade the market, despite being allocated an R18-million budget in 2022.

Should the order not be followed within 30 days, Mayor, dr Nasiphi Moya, and City Manager, Johann Mettler, would face a month-long prison stay or a year suspended.

MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Cllr Sarah Mabotsa, confirmed that the department’s Group Head, Makgorometje Makgata, submitted the affidavit as per the court order.

Mabotsa added that the affidavit confirms that in the 2024/25 financial year, the city increased its spending on maintenance to R33.1-million, spending only 1% less than was allocated.

The Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA) was the body that obtained a contempt of court order against the Tshwane Metro.

Mabotsa said the documents relating to the actions of the previous political administration are now with IMASA for them to study.

“We have recently met with IMASA and both parties have expressed their sincere desire to develop a far more collaborative working relationship and partnership than has been the case for the past few years”, she said.

On October 31, 2022, the High Court’s Justice Meersingh ordered several actions to be implemented at the Tshwane Market during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years.

These are the focus of this week’s submission.

The submitted records form part of the draft and final operational precinct plans from 2022 and 2023, and include records of work that has already been done.

This includes adding fire and smoke detection systems, electrical connectivity, security and checkpoint management, lifts (including personnel lifts, goods lifts, and hoisting systems), sanitation systems, and refuse removal into compliance with existing law.

“This is not merely an exercise in technical legal compliance but a demonstration of our multiparty coalition government’s commitment to stimulate the city’s economy and create jobs for unemployed residents.

“This starts with fixing mistakes by past administrations to enable our farmers and traders to work in a safe, clean and efficient market,” Mabotsa said.

The MMC also said that the capital expenditure (CAPEX) of the municipality decreased over the years in question as a result of the previous administration.

She affirms that under the current administration, the market can expect something different.

“Although CAPEX spending had been reduced over the last few financial years under the previous political administration, this incumbent multiparty coalition government is actively seeking investors for the Tshwane Market to accelerate CAPEX injections to improve, upgrade and expand the market.

“These investment opportunities for the Tshwane Market were presented at the Tshwane Investment Summit this month,” Mabotsa said.

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