The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) shares the community’s anger over the unilateral and unlawful removal of trees at Jetty 3 in what was a poorly conceived and reckless attempt to build a soccer pitch for municipal employees, and will table questions for written reply at the November 2025 Council meeting in order to obtain full details on how this was authorised — and to demand accountability from the municipality and those responsible.
We will demand clear answers on who authorised and carried out the tree removals, whether environmental laws were followed, how contractors were appointed, what the total cost was, which species were affected, who will clean up the site, and whether this ill-fated project amounts to wasteful expenditure. (See photos here and here)
The now-aborted soccer pitch project caused significant damage to municipal infrastructure:
- The Greater Tzaneen Municipality Pusela main water line was damaged more than four times during earthworks.
- Electrical cables were severed, affecting street lighting in Aqualane — an area already plagued by high crime levels.
- Numerous trees were destroyed, with no clarity on how many were indigenous or protected species.
Throughout this process, we as the DA repeatedly raised concerns through written questions regarding the legality of constructing a soccer pitch for employees. The project came to an abrupt halt — but the damage remains. But the municipality has yet to provide any written response, offering only a verbal admission of poor planning.
There is still also no clear plan for the cleanup and rehabilitation of the Jetty 3 area.
Legal Framework
The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) lists activities that require environmental authorisation because of their potential impact on the environment. These include the clearance of indigenous vegetation and large infrastructure works.
Given the scale of destruction at Jetty 3, the municipality may have acted in direct contravention of environmental legislation.
The DA condemns the careless and illegal actions that led to environmental damage, infrastructure failures, and financial waste. This incident exposes serious governance and planning failures within GTM.
We will continue to hold the municipality accountable, ensure that those responsible face consequences, and push for full rehabilitation of Jetty 3.