The Westonaria Local Municipality is located within the area of jurisdiction of the West Rand District Municipality. Westonaria Local Municipality is bordered by the Randfontein Local Municipality, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, the Merofong City Local Municipality, the Sedibeng District Municipality and the Emfuleni Local Municipality.
The Westonaria Local Municipality is characterised by a dispersed urban structure consisting of various urban areas and mining villages spread across the entire municipal area. The urban areas include the following:
Westonaria
Bekkersdal
Simunye
Venterspost
Glenharvie
Hillshaven
Wagterskop Extension 2
Nufcor (private township)
Libanon (mining village)
Waterpan (mining village)
A number of Agricultural Holding areas occur within the Westonaria municipal area i.e. West Rand Agricultural Holdings, some of the holdings that are part of Ten Acres Agricultural Holdings, Wagterskop Agricultural Holdings, Waterpan Agricultural Holdings and West Rand Garden Estates Agricultural Holdings. The total number of stands in the urban areas are approximately 11 383, the total number of Agricultural Holdings 904, the rest of the municipal area consists of farm portions.
Message from Cllr Maserame Khumalo, Executive Mayor: Westonaria Local Municipality
Having recently commemorated Human Rights Day on 21 March, we need not only remember the events of Sharpeville but must also begin to tackle human rights challenges that we still face in our country. Human Rights must mean more than having them enshrined in the constitution. It must mean access to shelter, water, sanitation, electricity, jobs, quality health care, safety and education.
The Bekkersdal Renewal Project has indeed been busy and I am sure the community can see the evidence of all the hard work on the ground. I would like the mention the successful progress of the Local Business Support Center, the Department of Labour skills training and SMME capacity building, the emergency center upgrade, upgrading of the information hub for the housing information offices, the extension of the Bekkersdal police station, the upgrading of the Bekkersdal access road and the upgrading of the east and west clinics.
The most important project, however, is the relocation of people from dolomitic land to new homes on safe ground in the south of Westonaria. As per our council resolution, about 15000 households will be relocated. This project has required the involvement and participation of all stakeholders in Bekkersdal and Westonaria and I would like to thank you for your dedication and commitment to the people of Bekkersdal and the promotion of human rights for all.
Mayor Khumalo's State of the Town Address
The Executive Mayor, of the Westonaria Local Municipality, Ms. MA Khumalo, recently delivered her State of the Town Address, under the theme, “Unifying in the face of diversity to achieve a common goal”. Here are some of the highlights of her address:
The Westonaria municipality, the City of Johannesburg and the Department of Housing have come together as a matter of urgency, to address the housing backlog in Bekkersdal and other informal settlements around Westonaria. Searching for available land was the biggest challenge and finally suitable land was identified.
Westonaria South will soon be proclaimed to accommodate new housing developments by 2012.
Applications have been lodged for the establishment of townships and industrial and commercial development along the N12, bordering the Municipal area of the City of Johannesburg to the East and Randfontein to the North.
Westonaria Extension 10 is situated south of the Westonaria High School and Westonaria English Primary School. A private developer will be developing 130 residential stands and approximately 350 town houses.
Gold Fields will be developing 155 town houses for their employees in Glenharvie and Westonaria.
27 industrial and commercial stands will be developed in Protea West Industrial Park.
Job creation will be prioritised during the industrial and commercial developments that are planned.
Gold Fields has renovated the Libanon Sports Stadium to provide a multi-functional sporting facility to align with the 2010 World Cup strategy. This facility is currently being made available to local schools and will be handed over to Westonaria Local Municipality in 2009.
Safety plans have been implemented by the Directorate: Community Services to assist in Social Crime Prevention. A thorough consultative process with relevant stakeholders, including members of the community, is taking place. Crime hotspots will be identified and a Community Safety Forum is being established.
Goldfields has renovated the Centre for the Elderly in Bekkersdal. The Municipality is currently seeking business sector funding for the operation of the Centre.
Secure parks were developed in Simunye, Bekkerdal and Westonaria to improve the safety and security of children. The support and cooperation of the community is needed to prevent the destruction of these facilities.
The Bekkersdal / Thusanang Water Main Project, Phase 2 (Bucket Eradication Z-Section) was successfully completed.
The Storm Water channel project in Bekkersdal was successfully completed.
The renovation of East Clinic by the Department of Housing has been completed and progress is being made on completing the West Clinic.
