A projected R32.5 billion needed to eradicate Tshwane's informal settlements

THE City of Tshwane's efforts to eradicate informal settlements have received a major boost with the approval of its Informal Settlements Management Policy, which outlines a projected R32.5 billion investment needed to upgrade or relocate existing settlements.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

This follows the public participation process the municipality undertook last year to limit the number of informal settlements, which currently stands at 502.

Mayor Nasiphi Moya previously said the policy would explore revenue-generating opportunities such as electrifying informal settlements, potentially generating revenue and reducing the city's annual expenditure of R1.5 billion on service provision.

During the budget tabling last May, Finance MMC Eugene Modise expressed concern about the rapid growth of informal settlements and allocated R98 million to formalise them.

Tshwane's informal settlements, which previously numbered 220, grew rapidly during the Covid-19 period due to a moratorium barring the forced removal of unlawful land occupiers.

DAs caucus chief whip, Jacqui Uys, previously criticised the city’s inability to keep up with providing land, housing, and infrastructure for basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity connections.

“The mushrooming of informal settlements and the lack of basic services such as electricity lead to a huge increase in illegal electricity connections, she said at the time.