Madibeng Municipality's failures fuelled racial tensions among businesses in Hartbeespoort: SAHRC

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said that failures within the Madibeng Local Municipality had fuelled racial tensions among businesses in Hartbeespoort.

Commissioner Tshepo Madligozi revealed this after the commission investigated claims that black applicants were unfairly excluded from land lease allocations along the dam.

The Hartbeespoort Community Development Initiative accused the municipality of weaponising noise pollution by-laws.

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However, the commission found the real problem was the municipality’s failure to enforce those laws.

Madligozi said this wasn’t just poor governance, it’s a factor in deepening social divisions.

"On the one hand, black residents say noise by-laws are being weaponised. On the other, white residents say there’s no enforcement. It’s not only a governance failure, it adds to racial tensions in the community," he added.

The commission also revealed that the municipality admitted that poor leadership contributed to racial and gender bias against black applicants.

It has now ordered Madibeng to publish outstanding environmental and noise regulations and submit an enforcement plan.

"They conceded there was poor leadership and instability. They must gazette the by-laws and provide an enforcement strategy."