Proof that caring governments can deliver
Image: .Bongani Shilubane / Independent Newspapers
The City of Tshwane's recent achievements during the last two Council meetings and today at Hammanskraal prove that caring governments can deliver spatial, social, economic and environmental justice for South Africa', says GOOD's Councillor Sarah Mabotsa, the Tshwane Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning.
Today at Hammanskraal, the handover of Module 2 of the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant means safe water is coming to more homes in Hammanskraal. The neighbourhoods of Kudube - Units 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and Unit D, Jubilee Tower, Jubilee Direct, Dominican Tower, and some areas of Majakaneng will benefit from Module 2's water supply.
This expands the areas of Hammaskraal that have since January 2025 benefited from Module 1's water supply (namely Mandela Village, Marokolong, Ramotse, Kekana Gardens/Steve Bikoville and Babelegi Industrial area). In 2023, dozens of Hammanskraal residents tragically died from a cholera outbreak.
The provision of safe, reliable water in taps is something most South Africans take for granted, and, finally, for the residents of Hammanskraal, in 2025, this is becoming a reality. Access to clean water and a healthy environment is a Constitutional right of every South African.
This week, the City of Tshwane's Council also approved the multi-party coalition government's initiation of a public participation process to commence for the Urban Forestry Tree Protection By-Law.
The City of Tshwane is known as the Jacaranda City, but these and many other trees in our parks, road reserves and other public open spaces are being vandalised and sometimes illegally removed. Trees and urban forests are proven to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and these green spaces provide important environmental assets for communities. We must protect and preserve our natural assets and ensure that the environment of the city is managed and enhanced for future generations.
GOOD has also supported the transfer of 1,007 City-owned residences to a non-profit housing entity, Housing Company Tshwane, to provide more affordable housing in well-located parts of the city. The total municipal value of the 1,007 residential properties approved for transfer to the non-profit Housing Company Tshwane is approximately R92 million.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The Housing Company Tshwane is a City-owned company that can offer homes for rent at less than the market rate. These below-market rentals provide housing to the so-called 'missing middle' segment of the market, to those households with a combined income of less than R22,000 per month. According to the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, the City of Tshwane's residential market by value is the third largest in South Africa (after Cape Town and Johannesburg), and almost one quarter of Tshwane's households are tenants.
The provision of affordable, well-located rental accommodation that is close to economic centres helps more workers to afford to live closer to their place of employment. The rental units transferred to Housing Company Tshwane are in the centrally-located suburbs of Capital Park, Silverton, Eloffsdal, Villiera, Wolmer, Daspoort, Danville, Claremont, Arcadia and Proclamation Hill.
Bringing people closer to their jobs is an underlying principle of both spatial and economic justice and serves to reverse some of the cruel legacy of apartheid, which placed black, coloured and indian people very far from economic opportunities.
The provision of more affordable rental apartments in centrally-located areas of the city means that more residents can afford to live close to their places of work. This will save hours of commuting time and reduce costly transport costs, meaning more money in their pockets and more time with their families.
A reduction in transport distances is also good news for the whole city, as this tends to reduce air pollution from transport emissions (achieving some environmental justice) and shorter commutes help reduce traffic congestion. GOOD is proud to be part of the City of Tshwane's multi-party coalition government.
The work for Spatial, Social. Economic and Environmental Justice for South Africans is central to the objectives of GOOD, as this is the pathway to a safer, more prosperous, equitable, inclusive and sustainable society.
Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor and MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
Trade and Industry department counters against Trump's tariffs
This combination of file pictures shows US President Donald Trump (L) and President Cyril Ramaphosa. PRETORIA - The Trade and Industry Department has responded to US tariffs, by launching a support desk for affected companies. The intervention includes a newly established Export Support Desk, to help businesses with market guidance and alternative trading partners. This comes as US prepares to charge South African goods entering the US a 30% tariff. Minister Parks Tau has agreed that US tariffs will affect a number of South Africa's industries that have had a strong working relationship with the US.
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Tau launches urgent support measures for exporters affected by US tariffs
South Africans have been asking for more information on the US tariffs. It seems that there is now some movement at last. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Parks Tau has announced in a late statement on Thursday that his department is launching urgent measures to support exporters affected by the US tariffs. His statement came after a week of no communication from the dtic, apart from saying negotiations are at a sensitive stage. He lambasted people spreading rumours, saying in a trying moment for South Africa, there remain people who 'would seek to sabotage our efforts to resolve this impasse'. 'Despite our tireless efforts, which we, where possible, communicated consistently, some segments of our country refuse to be a part of the solution. Instead of providing constructive support to the efforts made by government, the Democratic Alliance continues to release reckless statements which undermine the progress we have been making towards the 1 August deadline. 'This is downright irresponsible for a party in the government of national unity and an integral part of the process. We will not, however, be deterred by this.' ALSO READ: Economists question if SA has a plan for US tariffs, Tau says here it is Set of measures in response to imminent US tariff Tau said the department announced a set of measures in response to the imminent 30% tariff hike on South African exports to the US, which comes into effect on 1 August. 'These urgent interventions are part of the dtic's ongoing commitment to protecting jobs, preserving market access in the US and promoting export diversification to alternate markets in Africa, the EU, Asia, Latin America and other strategic partners.' One of the most important interventions is the establishment of an Export Support Desk, which will serve as a direct point of contact for companies affected by the US tariff hike. Tau said the Desk will provide updates on developments and tailored advisory services to exporters on alternative destinations, guidance on market entry processes, insights into compliance requirements and linkages to South African embassies and high commissions abroad. 'This tariff hike poses a direct threat to our export capacity, particularly in strategic sectors such as automotive, agro-processing, steel and chemicals amongst others. As government, we are fully committed to supporting our exporters through this challenging time. ALSO READ: Citrus growers call on president to urgently intervene about 30% US tariff Dtic working with urgency now 'We are working with urgency and resolve to implement real, practical interventions that defend jobs and position South Africa competitively in a shifting global landscape. The stakes are high and we must respond decisively to ensure our export industries remain resilient, competitive and globally integrated into diversified markets.' Exporters are encouraged to engage directly with the Export Support Desk and also visit the dtic website regularly for updates and support mechanisms. Tau said the dtic remains steadfast in its mission to assist local producers and safeguard South Africa's trade interests amid growing global uncertainty.
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
High court drives ‘final nail' into Turkish Karpowership coffin
'The Karpowership deals are now absolutely dead. It will never be loaded on to your electricity bill,' says Outa's executive director, Stefanie Fick. The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria has formally cancelled the three South African 'emergency power' contracts of the Turkish Karpowership company, nearly a year after two senior government ministers verbally signalled the end to one of South Africa's most controversial electrical power generation agreements. Following a legal settlement agreement reached between the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on 31 July, the high court has formally set aside the power generation licences granted by Nersa to the Istanbul-based floating powerships company. The agreement recognises that any further court action by Outa to review the legality of the licence awards had become 'academic' after it emerged that the minister of mineral and energy resources advised Karpowership in writing on 29 September 2024 that the multibillion-rand deal had been terminated due to Karpowership's failure to reach commercial close or to meet deadlines as a preferred bidder for the power supply contracts. In October 2024, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Environment Minister Dion George both indicated verbally that the deal was dead in the water — but some civil society organisations nevertheless called for iron-clad assurances that the deal was at an end. At the time, The Green Connection environmental justice group asked: 'Why, if the Karpowership deal is truly off the table, is the government still opposing The Green Connection and Outa's court cases?' The Centre for Environmental Rights law clinic in Cape Town had also called for further reassurances from the government, while Karpowership did not acknowledge or respond to requests for clarity. The plan to moor several floating, gas-powered powerships in Richards Bay, Coega and Saldanha harbours came to light nearly five years ago when Daily Maverick exposed the apparent abuse of an emergency procedure to sidestep environmental authorisation procedures during the Covid-19 crisis. A senior Council for Scientific and Industrial Research engineer later estimated that the gas-to-electricity project could cost taxpayers more than R200-billion over 20 years. This week, in the high court, the final nail appears to have been hammered into the coffin of the South African Karpowership plan following the official cancellation of the power generation licence granted by Nersa, the full terms of which were not disclosed. In a media statement on 31 July, Outa noted that it had filed legal papers in April 2022 calling on the high court to review Nersa's decisions to grant the licences. This led to a three-year fight, including a long dispute over access to documents. 'Outa believes this case contributed significantly to the collapse of the Karpowership deals, as Eskom eventually cancelled the grid access. The removal of the generation licences is the final end of this deal. Outa regards this as a significant legal victory, and a huge victory for the public. 'The Karpowership deals are now absolutely dead. It will never be loaded on to your electricity bill,' said Outa's executive director, advocate Stefanie Fick. 'This ruling is a powerful affirmation that decisions involving billions in public funds must comply with the law. We challenged this process because the public deserves transparency, proper oversight and value for money, none of which were present in this licensing saga.' Nersa and Karpowership have not responded to requests for comment on the legal ruling, but any comments will be added when received. DM
