Tshwane's war on urban decay gains momentum in Pretoria North
The metro's intensified campaign against urban decay has gained visible traction in Pretoria North, where residents, municipal officials, and community leaders have joined forces to reclaim and restore spaces through the Re A Spana programme.
Region 1, covering Pretoria North, became the largest target in the metro's accelerated service delivery campaign on May 16.
The clean-up effort, which took place at the corner of Emily Hobhouse Avenue and President Steyn Street near Monument Park, saw municipal workers clearing overgrown vegetation, fixing potholes, removing illegal dumping, and addressing neglected infrastructure.
The programme is a cross-functional metro initiative that brings together teams from different departments to tackle service delivery backlogs and urban neglect.
Pretoria North has seen increasing challenges related to illegal dumping, pothole-ridden streets, broken infrastructure, and unmanaged green spaces, fuelling urban decay and negatively impacting property values, safety, and community morale.
Ward 2 Councillor Meyer, who recently hosted a successful clean-up on Daan de Wet Nel, praised the residents and volunteers who have actively contributed in cleaning up the area.
'The community spirit in Ward 2 is unmatched.
'We don't sit back and complain; we show up, we work together, and we fix what's broken.'
Community members are encouraged to attend future clean-up events, report problem areas, and maintain public spaces through neighbourhood watch groups and civic forums.
With Pretoria North now visibly cleaner and more functional, residents and officials alike are optimistic that the momentum will continue, not just as a campaign, but as a culture of care and accountability.
Meyer said potholes were fixed, including those on Gerrit Maritz, Koos de la Rey, Rachel de Beer, and President Steyn.
'Streetlights were repaired across Ward 2 and on main roads. Water leaks were also repaired, and electricity faults were addressed.
'We had the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) inspect spaza shops and enforce by-laws. We haven't seen such a repair blitz in years, and for that, we appreciate the metro for the service delivery,' said Meyer.
Resident Iris Ntombela said what the metro has done has brought light back to Pretoria North.
'I usually describe this area as a dark place, due to the neglect we are experiencing as residents.
'I saw they fixed the streetlights at Gerrit Maritz near Checkers because motorists were doing as they pleased in that area. We want the metro to continue providing services because at the end of the day, we pay rates and we deserve better.'
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