Latest news with #ReASpana
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Re A Spana aims to bring change to Brooklyn streets
The metro claims to have reclaimed public spaces, restored order, and improved service delivery in Brooklyn through its large-scale Re A Spana clean-up and enforcement campaign. This forms part of the strategy to boost service delivery, uniting municipal departments and national partners to tackle urban decay and enforce by-laws in a key local area. Kholofelo Morodi, MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, said the programme shows what is possible when all arms of government work together. 'This is not a once-off campaign, but a systemic shift towards visible, accountable and community-centred governance.' According to Morodi, the metro wants residents to see and feel the change where they live and work. She said Brooklyn was identified as a priority because of its strategic location within Pretoria and its significance as both a residential and commercial hub. Over the years, the suburb has faced challenges including illegal land use, non-compliant businesses, public safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure. 'The metro deployed a cross-functional team of city departments and Home Affairs to tackle the issues. 'This coordinated effort saw officials repaint road markings, distribute waste bins, clear vegetation, enforce by-laws against illegal businesses, conduct immigration checks with Home Affairs, and carry out fire safety assessments.' Morodi explained that all these interventions were funded within existing regional budgets, ensuring there were no additional costs to the city. 'Re A Spana shows what we can achieve with proper planning and collaboration. This initiative was not about spending more but about using what we already have more effectively,' she said. Morodi said the metro has put in place several measures to sustain and build on the improvements. She said weekly service delivery war room sessions are tracking progress and holding departments accountable for response times. Regional operation centres have been activated to address backlogs such as potholes, water leaks, and streetlight repairs. According to Morodi, a significant backlog in streetlight repairs has been identified in Brooklyn and is now being cleared. 'Road repairs and pothole fixes are also underway to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.' She confirmed that similar interventions are being rolled out in other parts of the metro. 'We want to send a clear message that the metro is reclaiming spaces that have been neglected or taken over by lawlessness,' she said. 'Re A Spana is a key driver in restoring confidence in the metro's ability to deliver and maintain services. It is about visible governance and operationalising our 100-Day Action Plan.' Among the issues tackled in Brooklyn were unlicensed businesses, undocumented foreign nationals in the hospitality sector, and waste management gaps such as bin shortages and illegal dumping. The campaign also addressed by-law violations and fire safety non-compliance. 'TMPD officers conducted raids on unlicensed businesses and removed illegal trading structures, while Home Affairs officials carried out documentation checks to enforce immigration laws,' Morodi explained. ALSO READ: Man arrested over tampering of power lines in Elandspoort Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Tree pruning blitz in north gets warm welcome
Tree pruning blitz in north gets warm welcome Residents of Pretoria North have expressed their appreciation following the recent tree pruning operation conducted along Rachel de Beer Street as part of the Tshwane metro's ongoing ReASpana campaign in Region 1. The initiative, aimed at revitalising public spaces, improving service delivery, and promoting safer communities, saw teams trimming overgrown trees and clearing debris that had long posed safety and visibility concerns along one of Pretoria North's busiest corridors. Patricia Molefe of West Street said they have been complaining for months about trees blocking traffic signs and making it hard for pedestrians to walk safely on the sidewalks. Molefe said this is the first time in a while the residents saw real action, and it makes a difference. The ReASpana campaign was launched to restore service delivery and bring basic maintenance services back to the forefront. In Region 1, which includes areas like Pretoria North, Soshanguve, and Akasia, potholes were repaired, grass cut, illegally dumped material removed and trees pruned. Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer said it was important for trees hanging over power lines to be cut, as they are one of the main causes of power trips. 'Overgrown trees not only make our suburbs look neglected, but they also present real hazards, especially near intersections, streetlights, and pedestrian crossings. 'This work is about more than aesthetics; it's about reclaiming safe and functional public spaces.' He urged residents to continue reporting tree pruning so that the metro can deliver. 'Tree pruning is very important, especially when we are approaching windy and summer seasons. A lot of our power failures are a result of tree trunks hanging over the electricity infrastructure. 'Last week, on the corner of West and Rachel de Beer streets, we had two power failures because of overgrown trees,' said Meyer. Rachel de Beer is a very important road, linking residential, commercial, and school zones in Pretoria North. In recent weeks, residents have raised concerns over falling branches which obstructed traffic lights and made it hard for motorists to navigate this road. 'I am happy about the pruning, but let this be the beginning of a consistent effort. We want to see our entire neighbourhood being looked after. 'This is a step in the right direction. Cleaner surroundings attract more foot traffic, and when the area looks well-maintained, people feel safer,' said Lawrence Khoza. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said its energy and electricity section has implemented an annual tree pruning plan to lessen the impact of overgrown plants on power infrastructure. 'Regular inspections are conducted by dedicated electricity teams to identify and address any hazardous trees that could pose a risk to power lines. 'The metro's annual tree pruning programme, along with an emergency tree pruning plan, is in place to manage and mitigate such risks. The ongoing schedule aims to prevent future outages caused by tree growth.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Mayor leads inspection of Region 3
Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, accompanied by members of her mayoral committee, conducted a recent site inspection walkabout around areas in Region 3. Moya says the region 3 team will be responsible for delivering on the service delivery gaps that have been picked up during their scouting exercise. Some of the service delivery issues observed include a lack of public toilets, illegal ads, illegal parking, and the reopening of the Reserve Bank offices. 'We took a walk in Sunnyside today to observe the work done by our teams since we launched #ReASpana in November 2024. We've done the work, but we still have a long way to go. The visit today was part of our scouting efforts. We shouldn't wait for people to report problems when we can spot them by being proactive,' Moya said. She encouraged residents to adhere to by-laws to ensure the city runs smoothly, insisting that lawlessness in the city must come to an end. 'There is a public toilet on Sisulu Street in the CBD. Members of the public can use this facility without the need to urinate in public areas. Just metres from this public toilet, evidence of fresh urine is littered near trees and corners. This is not the city we want to live in,' Moya said. MMC for Environment and Agriculture, Councillor Obakeng Ramabodu, expressed similar sentiments, particularly calling out male residents who believe the metro is their personal toilet. 'This is what we're experiencing, where people urinate everywhere, even when public toilets are available. We want to call on all our residents to stop this behaviour. Let's take care of our city. We are fighting for a clean city, and you need to join us on this journey. We won't have a clean city when people urinate wherever they feel like, and they have no excuse. There is a toilet just around the corner, so let's work together.' The mayor also said that the Reserve Bank offices will reopen in August, so inner city residents can expect more congestion. 'The Reserve Bank has been closed for renovations in the past two years. It's expected to reopen in August. Over 2 000 employees will be making their way to work here, adding to the congestion in the CBD. We recently met with the Reserve Bank about preparing traffic congestion control for this transition,' Moya said. Watch here: Massage to Male individuals in the City of Tshwane . ' if the shoe fits, wear it '#EFFinGovernment — Obakeng COT MMC Environmental Agriculture . (@RamaboduObakeng) July 2, 2025 Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
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.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Tshwane cleans up cemeteries after public outcry
Despite the absence of a contractor to maintain cemeteries, the Tshwane metro has made significant strides in cleaning and cutting grass at cemeteries across Centurion, using its internal workforce to address long-standing concerns raised by the community. Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that although the tender for general cemetery maintenance is still pending, internal capacity is currently being used to carry out this essential work. 'Tender for general maintenance of cemeteries has not been secured, and currently, the city is using internal capacity for general maintenance of cemeteries,' he said. He noted that all cemeteries in Region 4, which includes Centurion, were maintained in April and that grass-cutting is ongoing. 'Grass cutting is continuing as and when required.' Region 4: Grass cutting at Centurion, Laudium, and Olievenhoutbosch cemeteries.#ReASpana #TshwaneAtWork — Obakeng COT MMC Environmental Agriculture . (@RamaboduObakeng) March 12, 2025 Mashigo said that the metro plans to maintain these cemeteries monthly going forward, with priority given to those most in need. He emphasised that there has been no illegal dumping or theft at Region 4 cemeteries in recent weeks. For some residents, these efforts have not gone unnoticed. Tshepo Nkadimeng, a resident of Olievenhoutbosch, expressed his satisfaction with the current state of the cemetery in his area. Clean-up operation of cemeteries is underway across the city. Some progress work at Olievenhoutbosch Cemetery, in Region 4. @CityTshwane — Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) April 16, 2025 Keeping our cemeteries clean reflects respect for our loved ones. 🌱 Region 4 teams are hard at work cutting grass in Centurion and Olievenhoutbosch cemeteries, ensuring serene and dignified resting place#CommunityCare #RespectOurCemeteries #ReASpana @CityTshwane — Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) March 7, 2025 'I honestly have to give credit where it's due. For the first time in a long time, I visited the cemetery last weekend and was pleased to see that the grass had been cut properly. 'It makes such a big difference,' he said. Nkadimeng stated that the cemetery feels peaceful and respectable again. 'In the past, we were used to seeing knee-high grass and having to clear the area around our family members' graves ourselves. This time, I didn't even need to bring a weed cutter or broom – everything was already in order,' he said. Nkadimeng added that the improved condition of the cemetery has made it easier for families to mourn without distraction. 'It shows that someone is paying attention. We are now more comfortable going to visit graves, and that's how it should be.' He noted that cemeteries aren't just open land, as they hold deep emotional value for all of those whose loved ones are laid there. Nkadimeng said he hopes that this level of care continues because it restores dignity to the cemetery. Early in January, frustrated residents raised complaints to call the attention of the metro to poor cemetery maintenance in Centurion. At the time, families were concerned about the overgrown grass, illegal dumping, and even safety risks due to criminal activity. Resident Sarah Botha, whose mother is buried at the Centurion cemetery, said she was uneasy there. 'I feel scared to visit my mother's grave. The tall grass makes it look abandoned. I've also heard stories about people being robbed there, and it's terrifying to think that I could be a target while I'm just trying to mourn,' she said at the time. Another resident, Thabo Nkosi, said it was heartbreaking to see the condition of the cemetery while his loved ones lay there. 'This is a sacred place for us, and seeing the cemetery in this state is scary,' he said. 'I want to honour my father's memory, but it's hard to do that in such a neglected environment.' Elderly widow Jane van der Merwe highlighted the issue of accessibility. She said she has had to bring her tools to clean her husband's grave. 'It's not just about the grass being long; it's about being able to pay my respects properly. The lack of maintenance is truly disheartening.' ALSO READ: Residents encouraged to get vaccine ahead of flu season Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
