{"id":2539,"date":"2025-04-07T10:53:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T08:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=2539"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:43:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:43:19","slug":"marry-me-informal-settlement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/marry-me-informal-settlement\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Tackles Service Delivery Challenges at Marry Me Informal Settlement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Gauteng Provincial Government, in a move that is a response to years of neglect and a significant initiative to improve\u00a0service delivery,\u00a0has been launched at the\u00a0Marry Me informal settlement\u00a0located in Soshanguve.\u00a0The intervention comes after the murder of four community police officers, which brought to light both residents&#8217; safety concerns and their service delivery problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This tragedy has been a catalyst for change. Leaders like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.gov.za\/News\/NewsDetails\/%7B066bf0b3-06ae-4388-b0b0-e7aabfbb5e39%7D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Premier\u00a0Panyaza Lesufi, and the City Tshwane <\/a>have prioritized development in Marry Me as well as the adjacent Leseding View Settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>These are temporary structures and must be replaced with permanent infrastructure.\u00a0Premier Lesufi said that he wanted to &#8220;change the face&#8221; of these communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-the-marry-me-settlement-needs-urgent-assistance\">Why the Marry Me Settlement Needs Urgent Assistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Residents of the\u00a0Marry Me Informal Settlement\u00a0face serious challenges.\u00a0The basic services such as clean water, electricity and sanitation are unreliable or even completely missing.\u00a0The recent increase in violent crimes has made living conditions even more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iol.co.za\/news\/shooting-deaths-prompt-development-plans-for-marry-me-informal-settlement-d490dc91-3d83-43fb-bef3-3099405a07c6?utm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> killing of four safety guards<\/a> revealed the vulnerability of this community.\u00a0The government responded by promising a comprehensive plan to turn Marry Me, a neglected settlement, into a safer and more liveable place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2919220955\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-holistic-approach-in-service-delivery\">A Holistic Approach in Service Delivery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-upgrade-housing-and-infrastructure\">Upgrade Housing and Infrastructure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This intervention&#8217;s cornerstone is the plan for\u00a01,600 RDP homes\u00a0and\u00a0800 social housing units\u00a0to be built in Marry Me and Leseding View.\u00a0The transition from temporary shacks to permanent and dignified housing is marked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This initiative includes upgrading the roads, drainage, and sanitation systems to ensure that emergency vehicles and other public services have safe and efficient access to the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Premier Lesufi stressed that this was not only about housing, but also about dignity and security.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-providing-reliable-electricity\">Providing Reliable Electricity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many residents are relying upon illegal connections, which can be dangerous and unreliable.&nbsp;The City of Tshwane is committed to providing legal, formal electricity connections in the most stable areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will also make it easier for families to study, work, and power their homes in a safer manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bring-in-technology-and-connectivity\">Bring in technology and connectivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The government is also planning to enhance digital connectivity.&nbsp;Residents will be able to access important government services, such as online education and job opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-making-marry-me-safer\">Making Marry Me Safer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The provincial government has expanded the use of\u00a0the <strong>ePanic App<\/strong>\u00a0to address direct safety concerns. This mobile app allows residents to alert emergency services by pressing a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The community patrollers will also be formally trained and outfitted to act as the first line of defense.\u00a0The South African Police Service will establish a satellite office to respond to reports of crime faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-198596025\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-create-jobs-and-support-local-businesses\">Create Jobs and Support Local Businesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is not only about infrastructure.\u00a0The initiative also emphasizes\u00a0economic empowerment.\u00a0The\u00a0<strong>Expanded Programme of Public Works (EPWP<\/strong>) will employ many locals in construction and maintenance, helping to reduce the unemployment rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller will support small businesses and informal traders through microloans, training and other means.&nbsp;The aim of these steps is to create a community that is more resilient and self-sufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-supporting-families-and-youth\">Supporting Families and Youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Marry Me has deployed social workers to help with the social and emotional toll that poverty and violence can have on people.&nbsp;They will help families who are dealing with trauma, substance abuse, and unemployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep youths engaged and off of the streets, programmes for young people are being launched.&nbsp;Sports leagues, after-school tutoring and counselling are all part of the activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-563479114\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-the-community-is-saying\">What the community is saying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many residents are cautiously optimistic.&nbsp;Some residents have heard similar promises before, but others say that there are noticeable changes this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;We have heard the promises before but this time, we see trucks and engineers on ground.&nbsp;Tebogo M. said that things might actually change.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Community leaders continue to call for transparency and participation in the planning and execution process, as a way to prevent corruption and ensure success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-gauteng-model-for-change\">Gauteng Model for Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 1,000 informal settlements exist in Gauteng.&nbsp;This initiative, if successful, could be used as a model for improving&nbsp;<strong>services<\/strong>&nbsp;within similar communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Urban migration is a pressing issue for cities like Tshwane. It&#8217;s important that the government develops scalable and effective solutions.\u00a0The attention on\u00a0the Marry Me informal settlement\u00a0could inspire similar efforts in other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2066552135\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-building-an-even-better-future-together\">Building an Even Better Future Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is about time that\u00a0service delivery\u00a0was given the spotlight in\u00a0Marry Me informal settlement.\u00a0The government has laid the foundation for lasting change through its investments in housing and safety, as well as job creation and social support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s not only about fixing systems that are broken but also about restoring dignity in a community that has been without it for far too long.\u00a0The success of this effort will be determined by the continued commitment of government, community participation and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ALSO READ:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/branding-gauteng-as-business-destination-through-g20-music-and-sports-at-wtm\/\">Branding Gauteng as a Premier Business Destination Through G20, Music, and Sports at WTM Africa 2025<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how the Gauteng Government is addressing service delivery challenges at Marry Me Informal Settlement through housing, safety, and infrastructure upgrades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Discover how the Gauteng Government is addressing service delivery challenges at Marry Me Informal Settlement through housing, safety, and infrastructure upgrades.","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[522,526,525,524,362,523,527],"class_list":{"0":"post-2539","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-community-safety","9":"tag-gauteng-government","10":"tag-housing-development","11":"tag-infrastructure-upgrades","12":"tag-marry-me-informal-settlement","13":"tag-panyaza-lesufi","14":"tag-service-delivery"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2539"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2542,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539\/revisions\/2542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}