The relocation of Mamelodi flood victims has been paused. Image credit: Doreen Mokgolo
(The Post News) – The long-awaited relocation of Mamelodi flood victims has hit a new snag, as the City of Tshwane confirms that extensive land rehabilitation is necessary before families can move to the designated site.
Thousands of residents from Pienaarspoort Extensions 15, 22, 23 and 25, many of whom were displaced by devastating floods that have swept through the area between December 2019 and 2023, are still waiting to be moved to safer land.
“The work to relocate the remaining 3 481 Mamelodi flood victims has been halted due to processes underway to appoint a contractor who will carry out the rehabilitation of the Pienaarspoort development site,” said MMC for Human Settlements, Aaron Maluleka.
He said the metro identified that after the land was acquired, about 23.8 hectares was used for extensive illegal sand mining and was deemed uninhabitable.
“The city had to temporarily suspend relocations to make way for the rehabilitation of the site,” he said.
According to him, the process is currently in the advanced stages for the appointment of the contractor, and relocations are expected to resume at the beginning of 2026.
“The City of Tshwane is committed to relocate affected residents to permanent serviced stands,” he stated.
He highlighted that to date, 1 719 households have been relocated and provided with rudimentary services, which include water tanks, mobile toilets, graded roads, and refuse collection.
“We are accelerating the process of appointing the contractor to ensure the outstanding affected residents are relocated as soon as possible,” said Maluleka.
He concluded by ensuring residents that once relocation is completed, plans for bulk services will be implemented.
However, residents have expressed deep fear and frustration over the relocation delay, claiming that the metro has been making ‘unkept promises’ for years.
“We live in fear whenever it rains for more than one day, we are still waiting for the land that they promised us when the floods first swept away our homes,” said resident, Thabo Mnguni.
He shared that it was unpleasant to live in temporary conditions for years.
“We just want to be moved to a safer place before the floods hit us again,” he said.
Another resident, Patricia Manamela expressed her pessimism.
“Almost every time we get an update on relocation, all we get are excuses. It takes time before our municipality actually does what they promise to residents, we might wait more years before we are moved,” she said.
With the relocation now expected to resume in 2026, many residents fear they will face yet another rainy season in unsafe conditions.
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