Kameeldrift township plan gathers momentum
The metro is making efforts to manage the balance between preventing illegal land occupation and meeting the needs of legitimate housing applicants.
The Tshwane Metro has been closely focused on the establishment of the Kameeldrift township, a project that has garnered considerable attention and has undergone numerous developments.
According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, recent updates have highlighted both progress and obstacles in this significant initiative, reflecting the metro’s effort to navigate complex administrative procedures and address community concerns effectively.
Mashigo said since the amended layout plan for Kameeldrift, which was submitted in March last year, the township establishment application has experienced several phases of review and revision.
He said the application was circulated for comment to various internal departments of the city.
“Based on the feedback, minor amendments were required, including updates to street names, final ERF numbers, and corrections to the line of no-access,” said Mashigo.
Mashigo said a request was made to the Department of Economic Development and Spatial Planning to determine if these amendments constituted material changes.
“Following positive feedback, the application underwent further scrutiny.
“The department requested additional information, which led to further revisions, including updated conveyancer certificates, amended draft conditions of establishment and additional clarifications on the layout plan.
“The service provider is actively working on these requests and the application is under continued review by the department,” he said.
He said there has been no new feasibility study beyond the previously mentioned updates to the layout while the primary changes involve refining details to comply with departmental requirements.
“The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) issued a directive requiring additional documents and information related to the Section 24(G) application.
These documents have been submitted, and the metro is awaiting GDARD’s decision. This step is crucial as it will impact the progression of the township development.”
Mashigo said Tshwane is actively negotiating with landowners around Kameeldrift 298-JR to acquire land designated for human settlement purposes.
He said the process is ongoing, and portions of land are being acquired to meet the needs of future developments.
“The timeline for allocating stands in the new financial year is contingent upon the approval of the township establishment application by the Economic Development and Spatial Planning Department.
“The allocation process will be managed following the completion of the necessary approvals and the finalisation of development plans.”
With land invasions continuing to be a significant challenge in Kameeldrift, Mashigo said the metro has established a dedicated Land Invasion Unit within the Tshwane Metro Police Department to tackle illegal land occupation.
He said this unit has successfully prevented land grabs, including recent removals of illegal occupations.
“This proactive approach is part of the city’s strategy to balance the prevention of illegal land occupation with addressing legitimate housing needs.
The outstanding positive comments required from stakeholders are being managed as part of the overall application review process.
With additional information being provided to the Economic Development and Spatial Planning Department and GDARD, the metro is working to address all feedback to facilitate approval,” said Mashigo.
Mashigo said the metro is making efforts to manage the balance between preventing illegal land occupation and meeting the needs of legitimate housing applicants.
The Department of Human Settlements has conducted shack marking and beneficiary registration in the Kameeldrift informal settlement to ensure that housing benefits eligible individuals.
Mashigo said those who have already benefitted from other settlements are excluded from this list to ensure fairness and equity in allocation.
“Community response to recent developments has been managed through ongoing communication by the city’s human settlements department and the local councillor.
They work to address any misinformation and clarify concerns of residents and ratepayers to ensure that the community remains informed about the progress and plans for Kameeldrift.”
He said providing services and infrastructure to both formal and informal settlements in Kameeldrift presents ongoing challenges.
“The metro’s human settlements department is investigating the installation and upgrade to bulk infrastructure to support both new developments and existing informal settlements. Strategies are being developed to address these needs effectively.”
Ward 87 councillor Freddie Pienaar said besides tents rented out by landowners, more structures have been built in the informal settlement.
“We’ve realised that most of the people who are renting out these tents are foreign nationals.
“The Department of Home Affairs will be actively involved once we start relocating these people,” said Pienaar.
Pienaar said he would work with the metro to ensure that applicants get the stands they applied for.
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