Representatives: Linda Tyrrell & Flor Healy – April 2022

ARRA is a founding member of OPERRA (the Old Pretoria Residents’ & Ratepayers’ Alliance), which represents 14 residents’ associations¹. OPERRA provides the individual associations with the advantages of strength in unity and a pool of expertise and experience not available to smaller groupings. ARRA is represented on OPERRA and the ExCo by Linda Tyrrell and Flor Healy.

The ExCo meets once per month under normal circumstances, but during COVID-19 restrictions, met virtually, or on a limited basis. OPERRA ExCo is comprised of 9 individuals drawn from the other Residents’ Association members i.e. Linda Tyrrell, Chair (ARRA); Richard King, Vice-Chair/Service Delivery Sub-Committee (WHA); Gawa Prichard, Secretary & Communications (ARRA); Flor Healy, Treasurer (ARRA); Carin Thirion, Crime & Security Sub-Committee (RHOARA); Erik Buiten, Planning & Zoning Sub-Committee – Spatial Development (RHOARA); Joan de Villiers, Heritage Sub-Committee (BEACA); Dirk Kotzé, Electoral & Ward Issues Sub-Committee (CVA).

On behalf of its RRA membership base, which includes ARRA, OPERRA is predominantly focused on the following main issues of priority:

• Development of Precinct Plans to be incorporated into the CoT RSDF, in the context of spatial development;
• By-law Enforcement, in a transparent and even-handed manner;
• Planning and Zoning breaches, in particular illegal and ‘non-permitted’ use properties and application of differential rates;
• Differential Rates application and collection in a more effective and transparent manner;
• Heritage protection and preservation, neglected by PHRA-G and SAHRA;
• Service Delivery issues relating to electricity outages, water leaks/outages, streetlights, potholes etc.;
• Environmental and Recycling issues, including protection of green spaces and public parks;
• Ward Committee by-law and implementation issues, including liaison with the elected Councillors to ensure two-way feedback;
• Crime & Security co-ordination to enhance cost-effectiveness and impact, while monitoring development of CPFs and CIDs;
• Estate Agent mis-selling of properties, contravening planning/zoning in residential precincts, and reporting them to the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB);
• Large-scale developments such as the Menlyn Node or the UP ‘Living Campus’ developments, which have implications on spatial planning and infrastructure requirements with potential negative impacts on residential areas;

OPERRA wrote a letter requesting a meeting with MMC for Economic Development and Social Planning, Cllr. André le Roux to review weaknesses and issues relating to spatial planning and by-law enforcement, but that meeting has yet to take place, but is anticipated to take place in late-April.

1 OPERRA is the Old Pretoria East Residents’ & Ratepayers’ Alliance, currently representing the collective interests of residents and ratepayers in: Arcadia (ARRA); Brooklyn (BEACA); Clydesdale (CVA); Colbyn (CRRA); Groenkloof (GRA); Hatfield (HRA); Lynwood (LRA); Menlo Park (MPRA); Muckleneuk-Lukasrand (MLPORA); Queenswood (QRA); Rietondale (RHOARA); Riviera (RIBHO); Sunnyside East (SERRA); Waterkloof (WHA);