The fuel crisis in South Africa has already reached the point where it is preventing the Community Safety Oversight Committee of the Tshwane Metro from functioning properly. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) anticipates that this will become a nationwide problem, requiring thorough planning and the sensible use of available fuel. In Tshwane, a scheduled visit to the Metro’s horse stables and dog units on Tuesday was cancelled at the last minute due to a shortage of diesel. Committee members are …
Community
Tshwane Metro’s Demand Regarding Historic Harlequin Sports Club Is Unrealistic and Absurd
The Tshwane Metro’s demand that the historic Harlequin Sports Club in Groenkloof, which has operated as a community sports club for 122 years, must be restored to its “original” state as a farm within a few weeks, is unrealistic and absurd. The Club, which was founded in 1902, is an important community institution with hundreds of members and facilities such as two rugby fields, a cricket field, bowling greens, a squash court, clubhouse, pavilions and a restaurant. The Club submitted a formal …
Hundreds of Soweto Residents Protest in Pretoria for a Flat Rate Electricity Tariff
Mostly elderly residents from Soweto travelled to Pretoria on Monday to protest outside the office of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. Hundreds of Soweto residents protested in the rain outside the offices of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in Pretoria on Monday, demanding a flat rate electricity tariff of R350 for poor and working-class households. They said they cannot afford the current tariffs. Protesters were led by members of the Diepkloof Workers, …
No Surprise as TMPD Deputy Commissioner is Suspended
The suspension of the Deputy Commissioner of the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), Umashi Dhlamini, comes as no surprise to the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus). Dhlamini, who is responsible for finance and administration within the TMPD, was suspended following serious allegations of irregularities that came to light during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. The investigation focuses specifically on a security tender in which Dhlamini and the Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate and …
Power Problems in Tshwane’s Ward 55 Escalate
Over the last two years, power outages in Ward 55 of the Tshwane Metro, which includes Kirkney, Zandfontein and Boekenhoutkloof, have increased so severely that residents experience disruptions on a daily basis. In many cases, it takes several days before electricity supply is restored. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has repeatedly reported outages and submitted petitions to the Petitions Committee, highlighting the problem and the urgent need for upgrading and maintaining the KV33 Swartpruit …
Evidence Before Madlanga Points to Possible Irregularities in Tshwane Tender
The evidence presented before the Madlanga Commission regarding allegations of political interference in a security tender in the Tshwane Metro is extremely concerning and details an issue that could have been avoided. While the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) was at the steer of the Community Safety portfolio, a technology-driven security model was followed which relied less on static guards and focused more on cost-effective solutions such as modern technology. This approach ensured effective …
Counting the People Who Sleep on the Streets of Mamelodi
On the weeked, about 70 volunteers went onto the streets of Tshwane to count and interview people living on the city’s streets and in homeless shelters. About 70 volunteers braved the cold and rainy weather over the weekend to count people living on the streets of Tshwane. Volunteers and members of the policing forum in Mamelodi went from street-to-street from about 6pm until 2am, interviewing and counting people sleeping rough. All participants were given a warm meal, vegetables and snacks. The …
Sick Officials Crippling Service Delivery
It is clearly evident from a recent report by the Tshwane Metro’s Human Capital Management Group that officials are crippling service delivery with an exceptionally high incidence of sick leave, while management does nothing about it. Between April and June 2025, the Metro’s 18 266 permanent employees logged a whopping 43 033 days of sick leave. This equates to 118 calendar years of full-time work lost in just three months. For the entire 2024/25 financial year, sick leave totalled 142 490 days. …
Answers Demanded Regarding Possible Large-Scale Housing Project in Gezina
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has formally approached the Tshwane Metro Council to obtain answers following rumours of a large-scale housing development at 531 Nico Smit Street in Gezina, where up to 400 people could potentially be accommodated in an area where service delivery is already vulnerable. The uncertainty surrounding the project is causing significant concern among residents, particularly because there has been no official communication from the Metro’s side. Residents of Gezina …
When Floods Hit, the Risk of Malaria Follows: How Disaster Systems Can Prepare Better
When floods sweep through southern Africa, the most visible damage is immediate: homes washed away, crops destroyed, clinics disrupted, families displaced. These images dominate headlines and humanitarian appeals. But as floodwaters recede, a quieter, slower-moving crisis often follows – in those same communities that are already struggling to recover. In parts of Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, severe rainfall and flooding in early 2026 reshaped daily life for …