These stories shook Pretoria east in 2025
From roadworks disputes to court battles and community uprisings, Pretoria east saw no shortage of controversy this year. As 2025 draws to a close, we take a look back at the headlines that had residents talking.
As the year comes to an end, Pretoria east finds itself looking back on a turbulent 2025 marked by infrastructure failures, legal battles, community resistance, and fierce political disputes.
These are the stories that dominated conversations across the east:
Metro disputes claims Lynnwood Road project on hold
One of the biggest sagas centred on the ongoing Lynnwood Road upgrade, where construction appeared halted despite the metro insisting the project was still alive.
When Rekord visited the site, no work was taking place, raising concerns among residents already frustrated by years of delays.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo maintained the project was continuing and blamed the temporary stoppage on a dispute between the main contractor, TBM, and subcontractors.
“The city, through its appointed employer’s agent, is actively engaging with the contractor to ensure work continues and the project is completed,” Mashigo said.
She emphasised that the metro had paid TBM for all certified work completed, and any remaining balance related only to outstanding work.
No draft budget allocation to replace asbestos pipes in east
Water infrastructure also dominated headlines, especially after revelations that Pretoria east’s draft budget contained no funding to replace ageing asbestos pipes.
Residents in Waterkloof, Menlo Park, and Brooklyn have endured weekly, and sometimes daily, bursts, with some residents resorting to buying their own repair materials out of desperation.
On Julius Jeppe Street, bursts have become part of daily life.
Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise defended the budget, saying the city was focusing on historically underserved areas with major investments in Rooiwal, Mamelodi, and Bronkhorstspruit.
However, residents argued the east’s failing infrastructure was being ignored yet again.
Pretoria Shepherd Dog Club on Umgazi Road is threatened by redevelopment plans.
City’s redevelopment plans threaten community clubs
Community anger also grew in Ashlea Gardens, where the city’s draft redevelopment plans placed longstanding community clubs at risk.
The Pretoria Shepherd Dog Club, which has used its Umgazi Road grounds for decades, objected fiercely.
Spokesperson Pieter Verheijen said the site is used daily and draws members from across Pretoria thanks to its central location.
“We are actively using the facility,” he said, adding that the club supports veterinary outreach clinics in under-resourced areas.
The metro, however, is pushing ahead with a land-development strategy aimed at leveraging city-owned properties for long-term development leases.
Mashigo said the city had noted objections but maintained its rights as the asset owner.
Residents cry foul, slam metro for defying court order on unlawful cleansing levy
Legal battles also made waves, particularly the fight over the unlawful R194 cleansing levy that the metro continued to bill despite two High Court rulings against it.
AfriForum and local residents accused the city of contempt of court after charges reappeared on September accounts under new labels.
Resident Jaco Visser said the metro was ignoring a binding court order.
“You are bound by an order until a higher court rules otherwise,” he said.
AfriForum’s Arno Roodt called the continued billing “not just administrative incompetence, it is contempt of court”.
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the city would seek senior legal counsel on the next steps.
Tshwane denies DA’s asphalt sale claims amid rising road damage complaints
Meanwhile, the metro faced more criticism when it denied DA claims that it was selling asphalt instead of using it to fix potholes.
Councillor Dikeledi Selowa alleged that the city was chasing revenue while motorists dodged dangerous road ‘craters’.
Residents echoed these frustrations, saying claims for vehicle damage often go unanswered.
The metro insisted all asphalt produced is used strictly for road maintenance across its regions.
Residents petition against church rezoning in Lynnwood Ridge
Another emotionally charged battle unfolded in Lynnwood Ridge, where more than 300 residents signed a petition against rezoning the NG Kerk property on Lancia Street for a 78-unit high-density residential development.
Residents argued the proposal threatened the suburb’s low-density character and would worsen congestion near Lynnwood Ridge Primary School.
They also said the church grounds, although not formally protected, hold deep cultural and historical value.
“Its removal would diminish the character of our neighbourhood,” the petition read.
Hillcrest pool reopens after residents’ court victory
In a more positive turn, the Hillcrest community celebrated a victory after months of campaigning and a court battle that forced the metro to act.
The Hillcrest swimming pool, closed since March 2024 due to a heater breakdown and water leaks, officially reopened on September 17.
Ward councillor Tiaan Dippenaar confirmed that repairs to the heater and leaks had been completed, and chlorine deliveries resumed, restoring the pool to full operation.
Residents who had petitioned and pursued legal action said their efforts had pressured the metro to prioritise the facility.
Resident Herman van der Westhuizen, who has used the pool for 49 years, said, “The pool heaters are fixed and everything is working well.
The leaks seem resolved now. Overall, it’s great that the pool is operational again.”
Community activist Jean-Pierre Verster, who helped organise the petitions, described the reopening as a collective victory.
“The Hillcrest pool has long been regarded as a vital community asset,” Verster said.
“This is not about politics. It’s about protecting a space that brings health, hope, and unity to our community.”
The pool continues to serve swimmers of all ages, from school learners and rehabilitation patients to professional athletes, with residents calling for a long-term sustainable management plan under the metro’s community upliftment programme.
From stalled roadworks to zoning battles, unlawful levies, and community victories like Hillcrest, Pretoria east residents made their voices heard loudly in 20
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