While residents have the right to establish new townships, the City of Tshwane has urged those planning to break ground on new developments to first seek approval from the municipality.

The city’s plea for compliance is made as the MMC for Human Settlements, Aaron Maluleka, has been hosting meetings with residents from the 17 identified illegal townships to discuss the fate of their settlements.

Maluleka recently met with residents of Moshate Gardens in Ga-Rankuwa, one of the illegal townships, announcing the city’s approach of working towards regularising the settlement, instead of demolishing it.

The city initiated the consultation process to regularise the illegal townships after realising it was losing revenue because of ongoing contraventions in these areas.

Maluleka said after the consultation, the city will present a robust policy instrument to the council to curb illegal developments.

“Otherwise, if we were to fold our arms, we would continue to lose revenue in terms of water, electricity,” he said.

He reminded residents occupying illegal townships that while individuals have the right to establish new townships, all developments must first obtain the required land development authorisation from the municipality. 

“This ensures that developments comply with the law and can be supported with essential services,” he said.

As part of the first round of consultation, the mayoral sub-committee on illegal townships has so far met with communities in Leeuwfontein, Moloto City, Rapao Village, Elandsfontein Plots, Moshate Gardens, Medline, Morula View, and Laezonia. 

“The sub-committee is a special task team comprising Members of the Mayoral Committee and supported by a technical working committee made up of officials. It was established to investigate and develop a policy response to the growing number of illegal township developments in Tshwane,” Maluleka said.

He said the ongoing consultation aims to assess their status and develop practical measures to address their illegality.

“During the engagements, the mayoral sub-committee and city officials stressed the importance of carrying out feasibility studies and submitting proper land development applications that comply with the municipal land use management by-laws, the National Building Regulations, and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act. Communities were reminded that these requirements are essential for safe, sustainable, and lawful development.” 

He explained that illegal townships fall into two categories, with the first involving individual property owners using their properties or building structures without the necessary land use authorisation or without approved building plans in terms of the National Building Regulations and Standards Act. 

The second category involves property owners who knowingly allow their land to be developed by others without first obtaining zoning approval or building plan approval.

“The city warns that unauthorised developments not only violate municipal by-laws but also lead to significant revenue losses through uncollected payments for water, electricity, and waste services. These losses reduce the city’s ability to maintain existing services and invest in new infrastructure for all residents,” Maluleka said. 

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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