Frustrated residents in Atteridgeville, Saulsville, Lotus Gardens, and surrounding areas say they are running out of patience with illegal spaza shops and unlawful electricity and water connections, which they believe are worsening service delivery in their communities.
The concerns were formally raised this week when the Concerned Tshwane Residents (CTR), a local community group, staged a protest and handed over a memorandum to City of Tshwane officials and the Atteridgeville police station commander.
According to the group, the growing number of unregistered businesses and illegal utility connections is straining municipal infrastructure and creating unfair trading conditions for compliant businesses.
“Our electricity keeps going off because of these illegal connections,” said Thabo Molefe, a resident of Atteridgeville. “We are tired of sitting in the dark while the municipality only talks.”
Residents argue that repeated power interruptions and water disruptions are directly linked to unauthorised connections that overload the system. While city officials have acknowledged that illegal connections strain infrastructure, community members say they want visible enforcement rather than verbal assurances.
Small business owners have also raised concerns about the economic impact of unregulated trading.
“Local business owners cannot compete with shops that do not pay municipal fees,” said Linda Makgole, a trader from Lotus Gardens. “The law must be followed by everyone.”
Community leaders insist their protest was peaceful and aimed at finding lawful solutions.
“We gave our memorandum in a peaceful way because we want a lawful solution,” said Dumisani Sithole from Saulsville. “But the city must act fast because people are tired of waiting.”
The City of Tshwane has indicated it will take strong action against illegal spaza shops and unlawful utility connections in areas west of Pretoria. However, it has not yet provided details on when enforcement operations will begin or how they will be implemented.
For many residents, the issue is no longer about promises, it is about timelines and accountability. Community members say they hope swift intervention can prevent further frustration and ensure that enforcement is carried out fairly and within the law.
Until then, residents say they will continue to monitor developments closely.