Tag: City of Tshwane

Posted on by — Leave a comment

It’s all systems go for Atteridgeville R1.2bn Capital Mall

The much-anticipated R1.2 billion Capital Mall in Atteridgeville will go ahead despite efforts to halt its construction on the basis that it would “cannibalize” smaller shopping centres in the vicinity.

MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Isak Pietersen said the City of Tshwane’s Appeals Tribunal successfully intervened in the impasse, which threatened to block the development.

The legal wrangling was between the developer, McCormick Property Development, and Safari Investments, over the threats posed by the new mall on the existing shopping centres.

Pietersen said the complaint was overturned on the basis that it lacked substance and went against the spirit of competition permitted in business.

He said the mall construction was an example of what the City wanted to do by creating a conducive economic environment for job creation.

“The aim of the City is to make sure we create those jobs and this is going to make sure that we create jobs,” he said.

The project would be in line with the City’s transport system plans, accommodating A Re Yeng bus system from the CBD towards the direction of the mall, Pietersen said.

“A lot of people who are going to use buses will have an opportunity to use the shopping mall.”

He said he was not sure when construction would start.

“There was an issue emanating from the appeal of the opposite mall that the big mall would cannibalise the smaller malls there. The matter was solved,” he said.

The project head of communications, Gayle Crow, said it was all systems go on the mega-development set to serve the entire Pretoria West region.

“An appeal to halt the development was overturned during a sitting of the City of Tshwane’s Municipal Appeals Tribunal in April, paving the way for the development of the iconic 60000m² regional mall, which will bring more than 3000 employment opportunities to the surrounding communities,” she said.

Crow said the mall would have direct access to both the N4 and WF Nkomo Street and situated on the planned N4/R55 interchange.

The double level mall will also anchor Capital City, an R5bn mixed-use development.

“The development node includes a 1500-bed private hospital, value retail centre, motor dealerships, affordable housing, student housing, schooling and community facilities,” Crow said.

The mall would probably open towards the end of 2021.

-Pretoria News

This news release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of SA-news.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Warring Mamelodi communities meet to end violence

Warring Mamelodi communities meet to end violence

Pretoria – A meeting was held between the warring communities of Mahube Valley extension one and their next door neighbours, an informal settlement called Mountain View in a bid to end the violence between them.

The meeting was led by the City of Tshwane.

Last week, battles erupted between the two communities. The violence, which started on Wednesday evening and continued into Thursday, saw several houses and more than 50 shacks petrol bombed.

Clashes broke out after a substation was damaged, allegedly caused by illegal electricity connections by residents of the informal settlement.

Many families from both communities were left destitute and their belongings destroyed in the fires.

MMC for Housing and Human Settlements Mandla Nkomo said the first official meeting with affected residents was held to find a solution to end the violence and find mutual agreement for the impasse faced by the two clashing communities.

“As fellow human beings, we cannot be happy that we are vandalising infrastructure and damaging each other’s properties,” said Nkomo.

“What has happened is unfortunate and should never happen again. That there is a housing backlog does not justify the inhumane way we treat each other, resulting in unnecessary pain.”

Electricity

Nkomo said the informal settlement residents pressed the city for the electrification of their area, but Nkomo was adamant that the city cannot defy the IDP process and MFMA guidelines in providing services.

“We are not here to tell you lies that there will be electricity tomorrow. Equally, the city cannot justify the jumping of queues in providing services.”

The city has also secured a court order, preventing residents from tampering with the resources of the municipality.

On Tuesday, a sense of calm prevailed. Police were no longer in the area and residents of the informal settlement had started to rebuild their homes.

In resolving the stalemate between the two communities, Nkomo announced that the city would conduct an assessment and viability study which will help in providing temporary services to the informal settlement.

The city will also conduct a feasibility study of the future development of the informal settlement and will hold further engagements with residents from Mahube Valley – who live in bond houses.

Last week, City of Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga suggested that a wall was needed between the two communities. However, Nkomo said a wall had been previously built in Mahube Valley as it was a closed off, gated community.

He said the wall had been erected before the creation of the informal settlement but was allegedly torn down by the informal dwellers.

“When the people invaded the land, they broke down the wall to access infrastructure,” Nkomo told News24.