Crackdown on illegal housing: Tshwane's response to crime and land theft

The City of Tshwane has vowed to crack down on illegal housing in Mabopane township, targeting structures allegedly occupied by undocumented foreign nationals amid rising crime concerns. 

This follows the recent demolition of informal stalls along the M17 route in Mabopane due to alleged drug dens and illegal businesses.

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya pledged to intensify efforts against crime in the area, with the city's security cluster set to clamp down on municipal land theft.

She stated that the city plans to focus on Mabopane due to concerns that certain individuals are attempting to usurp control and act as a parallel government in the area.

Accompanied by Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise and a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) Sarah Mabotsa, Moya said over the weekend that the city council revisited Mabopane due to concerns about foreign nationals allegedly occupying land, a matter brought to their attention by the local councillor.

More than 10 houses were found to be illegally constructed on a wetland in the area, with many occupants reportedly being foreign nationals lacking proper documentation.

Moya said: “They have built all these houses here which are illegal structures. Last week we started issuing contravention notices.”

She said the city plans to demolish the illegally built structures and disconnect their unauthorised water and electricity connections. 

“They have not only built on the flood line but they have also connected illegally on our water and electricity. What concerns us is that there is security (fee of) R50 per person in this area. We don’t know who those people are and we don’t know their relationship to the theft of this land which belongs to the municipality,” she said.

She emphasised that the city will clear the illegally occupied land, as it has plans to utilise it for the benefit of Mabopane residents. 

"When criminals take over, it derails our development," she said, adding that some individuals are attempting to take control and “pretend they are a government in Mabopane”.

During a recent campaign, MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka reported that 65 illegal structures were demolished at Mabopane station in line with municipal by-laws. 

He noted that many of these informal stalls, some dating back to the early 1990s, were allegedly used for illicit activities, including drug dens and unauthorised businesses.

The city said it has a precinct plan to revamp trading at the station and following the demolition of illegal structures, its focus will be on formalising the status of qualifying traders and allocating stalls.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za