The City of Tshwane’s planned relocation of residents from the Plastic View and Cemetery View informal settlements has hit a significant roadblock, with officials now appealing to the national government for help, citing that a majority of the residents are undocumented foreign nationals.
The relocation initiative, initially scheduled to begin in June, has seen little progress, leaving families living in what are described as unsafe and overcrowded conditions. The delay has reportedly caused growing impatience among residents.
In an interview, Aaron Maluleka, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, identified the primary challenge: determining who qualifies for government-subsidized housing. He stated that a significant portion of the settlements’ population consists of “illegal immigrants” who are “undocumented.”
“We should house documented people that are in our country that are looking for economic opportunities,” Maluleka said. “But if there are 60% that are foreign nationals… most of them are undocumented.”
The city is developing a new housing project, Pretorius Park, in the affluent Pretoria East area, aimed at providing 800 housing opportunities. However, these homes are intended for qualifying South African citizens. Maluleka argued that providing housing to undocumented individuals would be a “futile exercise” as it contravenes the National Housing Act.
The MMC revealed that the city has formally requested assistance from the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, to help identify and process those living in the settlements without legal status. He called for more consistent enforcement from the department, rather than sporadic operations “occasioned by the presence of the minister.”
The city’s efforts have been complicated by legal challenges. Maluleka noted that human rights lawyers, citing the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), and even interventions from the United Nations, have previously hindered attempts to remove individuals from the land.
Despite these challenges, Maluleka confirmed that a previous collaborative operation with Home Affairs led to the removal of 90 undocumented individuals. He emphasized the need for a sustained, multi-departmental effort to address the issue before the new housing opportunities can be allocated.
Beyond the immigration status debate, the settlements pose significant environmental and safety challenges. Maluleka cited issues with illegally dumped waste, polluted streams, and a recent fire allegedly started by recycling activities. He also linked the unregulated settlements to broader problems of infrastructure theft and high crime levels, stating that the city “can’t account for” the perpetrators.
While 70 qualifying South African families have already been relocated to serviced stands in Velvet, the future for the remaining inhabitants of Plastic and Cemetery View remains uncertain. The City of Tshwane’s path forward now appears dependent on a coordinated response from National Government departments to resolve a complex situation sitting at the intersection of human settlement, immigration policy, and the law.
