The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) commends the communities who have rolled up their sleeves and taken it upon themselves to maintain and gentrify their neighbourhoods under the Tshwane Metro Council’s community upliftment initiative, however, the current administration needs to provide more guidance.
This upliftment model’s objective is to empower communities by allowing groups, individuals and businesses to maintain council property such as streetlights, road signs and parks, and to install security measures such as CCTV systems.
It was established in 2023 when the Freedom Front Plus served as a governing partner in the Metro.
A report on the initiative, which was tabled to the Council, indicates that 81 approved upliftment projects remained active in the period from December 2023 to December 2025.
The status report does not, however, indicate the total number of applications submitted, while the sustainability of the operational plans has also not yet been assessed.
Moreover, there is no indication of how the Metro plans to boost these projects by, for example, providing financial assistance, liaising with investors, or offering training or skills development for project committees and community volunteer teams.
The model is a unique community partnership programme and its full potential will only be unlocked if the Metro throws its weight behind it.
Voters should vote for the Freedom Front Plus on 4 November 2026 for consistent, impact-driven community upliftment initiatives aimed at creating self-sustaining, safer, cleaner and more vibrant communities.
