As the year draws to a close, here’s a look at some of the headlines that impacted residents west of Pretoria the most.

Chaos at Tshwane markets

Whether it was the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market or the Marabastad Retail market, the large shopping hotspots came under scrutiny and controversy this year.

On August 11, Judge Mmonoa Teffo found the municipality was in contempt of court for failing to execute the upgrades for the Produce Market, despite being allocated an R18-million budget in 2022.

Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, and City Manager, Johan Mettler, had faced a month-long prison stay or a year suspended should the order not be followed within 30 days.

The metro was ordered to provide the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA) with an approved comprehensive draft of the plans it has for the market that will address challenges such as electricity, security, infrastructure, safety and compliance.

Since then, the MMC for Economic and Spatial Development Sarah Mabotsa, has confirmed that the measures the High Court had ordered have been complied with.

The Marabastad Retail Market was closed during a by-law operation in August after it was determined that many traders did not have the permits necessary to trade, and the property tenant was violating the terms of the lease agreement.

The move brought about backlash directed at Moya for what was dubbed a rash move from the former mayor (Cilliers Brink), opposing political parties and social media, who accused the mayor of endangering the livelihoods of informal traders.

Moya defended the metro’s call to shut the Marabastad Retail Market, saying that by-laws exist to protect both consumers and producers.

Throughout the operation 43 businesses were inspected; 36 Section 56 notices were issued for contravention of the Business Act (valued at R18 000); and 6 Section 56 notices were issued for contravention of Street Trading By-Law (valued at R1 800).

Other results included: 16 contravention notices issued for Building Regulations, and one Section 56 notice issued for contravention of fire safety by law (R3 000).

Two contravention notices were issued for fire safety by law, two illegal electricity connections were disconnected, seven businesses were closed immediately on the 11th and Boom Street, and 20 stalls were closed immediately.

TMPD impound corruption

During a site visit to the TMPD Pounding Depot in Region 3, Special Section 79 Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) chairperson Godwin Ratikwane called for a report to be conducted over corruption claims.

In September, Raitkwane made a site visit to the impound, where a meeting with the city officials onsite was held. Throughout the meeting, it was confirmed that there were elements of corruption.

Ratikwane had noted that the city’s contracted security company on-site were not wearing a uniform, had no name tags or even PSiRA numbers on them.

Some key findings revealed unrecorded impounded vehicles, meaning cars could be released without receipts, providing no proof that owners had paid fines as required by the city’s by-laws.

Another issue noted was that once a vehicle is impounded, the TMPD Officers would inform the security officers on duty not to register the vehicle. Then the owners would be told to pay discounted rates directly to the TMPD officers as opposed to paying at the city’s designated pay point.

The infrastructure in the area is also dilapidated with no sign of recent maintenance work having been done in the area.

A summary of the findings note3d that unrecorded impounded vehicles, under-declaration and unauthorised releases were taking place.
Some officers released registered vehicles without payment or valid reasons, and security guards, runners, and metro police allegedly formed a syndicate profiting from the process.

Physically, there was insufficient space to store impounded vehicles, and the walls of the impounding area are dilapidated and in a state of collapse.

Generally it was found that the effectiveness of the impounding teams is hindered by the invisible road markings in the CBD.

Ward 55 grievances

Members of the Ward 55 Socio-Economic Forum marched to the Coca-Cola Plant in Booysens over what they claim is a lack of transparency and inclusiveness in the company’s procurement in October.

The forum, accompanied by other community members, gathered at Claremont Square and was then accompanied by members of the TMPD and SAPS to Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa’s (CCBSA) site in Booysens shortly after.

Chairperson Kabelo Pelusa said for the past 8–9 months, they have not been in frequent communication with CCBSA, despite having a constructive working relationship prior.

In the memorandum handed over to the plant, some of the concerns and demands were exclusions from jobs, internships and SMME opportunities, as well as exclusions from bursary opportunities

The marchers also demanded an investigation into the hub funds, Cokeville and December tournament funding, and the complete handover of the hub to be managed by the forum entirely, as well as increased tournament funding and financial rewards.

They require an investigation into atationary for the back-to-school campaign that was allegedly purchased but not distributed.

Permanent employment opportunities for members, and a list of all constructors under CCBSA. They insist that locals must receive first preference for employment opportunities, and they demand the relocation of the current plant’s management due to ‘undermining’ community leadership.

During a community meeting in November with Human Settlements MMC, Alderman Aaron Maluleka, residents of Ward 55 took the opportunity to voice out the litany of issues they have with the way that the ward is being run.

During the meeting, in an area called Holy Cross in Saulsville, the community complained about their bills, title deeds and contraventions of their fellow residents.

Ward 55 in Pretoria includes areas such as Hercules, Daspoort, Danville, and Mountain View.

Residents were aggrieved over a lack of service delivery, pipe bursts, cable theft, uncut reeds, and the general maintenance of the area.

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