Latest news with #WesleyJacobs
IOL News
27-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Urgent action needed: Freedom Front Plus calls for disaster status in Centurion sinkhole crisis
A recent sinkhole in Jade Avenue, Lyttelton, caused by tree roots piercing an asbestos water pipe, has prompted the Freedom Front Plus to intensify its petition for the sinkhole issues in Tshwane to be declared a disaster area. Image: Supplied The Freedom Front Plus has intensified its campaign to petition the City of Tshwane to declare Region 4 a disaster area due to the severe sinkhole problem, following a recent sinkhole development in Centurion. The party has collected 3,500 physical signatures by visiting schools and engaging with the community, and has also launched an online campaign to gather more signatures. FF Plus PR councillor Wesley Jacobs emphasised that the petition process is transparent, as no ID information is being collected. "I submitted all the information to the council," he said. He cautioned that other political parties are now copying their approach, starting petitions on th same issue, but alleged that these parties are exploiting the issue for political gain by collecting ID information. According to him, there are currently 64 sinkholes in Centurion, highlighting the urgent need for rehabilitation and infrastructure maintenance. A recent sinkhole in Jade Avenue, Lyttelton, emerged when tree roots pierced an asbestos water pipe, resulting in an underground water leak. Jacobs explained that the primary causes of the sinkholes in Centurion are water and sewage leaks on dolomitic soil. The FF Plus is demanding urgent action from the City of Tshwane, calling for the declaration of Region 4 as a disaster area to access necessary funds for rehabilitation and infrastructure replacement. "Decisive action should be taken immediately to prevent the loss of lives," Jacobs said. This demand comes after Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Jacob Mamabolo recently suggested that implementing technology to detect potential leakages could be a more effective solution to the sinkhole problems plaguing Tshwane and Merafong City. Mamabolo urged the two municipalities to work together to tackle the sinkhole problem and provide documentation to support their bids for national funding. A roundtable discussion on sinkholes is planned for the end of July, bringing together experts and stakeholders to find long-term solutions. Meanwhile, Tshwane has budgeted R14.7 million to address the sinkhole crisis, but it's woefully inadequate, as estimates suggest R180 million is needed to fix over 60 sinkholes. Jacobs said: 'The Freedom Front Plus will keep pressuring the Metro to declare it a disaster area so the necessary funds can be obtained from the national and/or provincial disaster funds, as the Metro lacks the resources to replace outdated infrastructure and rehabilitate sinkholes.' [email protected]
The Citizen
30-06-2025
- The Citizen
Metro cracks down on Lyttelton lawlessness
Residents in Lyttelton are pleased with the enforcement and clean-up operation carried out in their area on June 27, which targeted illegal activities around car washes, informal food vendors and shebeens. The operation involved a co-ordinated effort between the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), municipal health department, and city officials to address a growing number of complaints from residents. Freedom Front Plus PR Councillor Wesley Jacobs said the action was long overdue and formed part of ongoing plans to clean up hotspots in Lyttelton. 'We first conducted a clean-up on Fountains Avenue, where we removed illegal settlers in front of the trees due to resident complaints. I arranged for a Tractor-Loader-Backhoe (TLB) and a waste truck to assist,' he said. He confirmed that an illegal car wash operating on the same road had been shut down, and the equipment was confiscated. 'Efforts were also made to address another illegal car wash at the Shoprite Centre. 'The TMPD has committed to removing its equipment daily to ensure the car wash does not operate there anymore. Zero tolerance will be enforced.' Jacobs added that he would soon obtain a lock for a nearby hydrant being used to illegally access water. The most extensive part of the operation took place in the Sports Park informal settlement, where officers raided shebeens operating illegally. 'We managed to confiscate alcohol and large speakers from these places. One of the shebeen owners was arrested on site,' Jacobs said. While several hotspots were targeted during the operation, the Sports Park area remained the main focus. He also revealed that a food establishment operating without any health, safety, or fire certificates was shut down and issued a R5 000 fine by the health department. 'The establishment was non-compliant with previous fines, and the health department found unsanitary conditions. 'They now have 30 days to pay the fine and produce the correct documentation or face closure,' he said. Despite a few setbacks, including the absence of Home Affairs and Social Development officials, which prevented officers from addressing undocumented foreign nationals, Jacobs expressed his commitment to seeing the job through. 'I will continue to monitor the area and make life more unpleasant for these illegal operators as legally possible,' he said. He also confirmed that additional operations would resume on July 4, following a brief pause due to end-of-financial-year procurement delays. The community has responded positively to the clean-up efforts. Muhammad Naidoo said that visible action has made residents feel safer and more hopeful. 'This kind of intervention was desperately needed. The noise from the illegal shebeens and the constant foot traffic from the car wash created an environment where people felt unsafe in their own neighbourhoods,' he said. Naidoo commended Jacobs and the TMPD for their persistence. 'It's reassuring to see our complaints being taken seriously. I hope this momentum continues and that more long-term solutions are implemented.' Another resident, Christina van Staden, noted that the clean-up has already made a noticeable difference in the area's appearance and atmosphere. 'The illegal car washes were not only an eyesore but also a public health concern, with all the wastewater flowing into the streets. 'The fines for illegal businesses are a step in the right direction. We need to support those who follow the rules, and I'm glad to see the city starting to enforce that.' Rekord reached out to the TMPD for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication. ALSO READ:Groenkloof residents foot security bill as metro falls short 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!
