​Thembisa Shologu
The Beleaguered Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Tshwane, is set to be formalised in July 2025.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya announced this during a Community Imbizo on Wednesday, 3 April 2024. 
The gathering was aimed at addressing residents' concerns about safety and service delivery, particularly following the tragic killing of seven community patrollers in March 2025.
A 27-year-old man, who was positively identified at an identity parade, has been arrested and has appeared in court in connection with the murders.
During the imbizo, the community raised several significant challenges, including a lack of housing, inadequate water supply, illegal dumping, a high crime rate, and issues with roads and sewage systems.  
Mayor Moya stated that the city would work to identify rightful beneficiaries until July.
She cautioned residents and others living in their properties to take action, stating that if an unauthorised person is found occupying the space, it will be taken away.
"I want to repeat the following: The formalisation of Marry Me Informal Settlement has been confirmed, and the formalisation will start from July 2025. There is work that will happen between now and July. 
"We need to locate the beneficiaries of Marry Me. When we organise and find someone else in your place, we will remove them, take the shack, and give it to someone else, and we will move on. 
"So, when we come to you, we want to find our beneficiaries on the list. We are not going to have cases where people sell stands; if you are a beneficiary, you will get what is due to you," said Moya.  
She said the city would also ensure that illegal dumping was dealt with by providing the community with dustbins to keep the area clean and safe from illnesses spread by flies.
The city will also deal with the blading of grass, which threatens people's safety if not cut.
"The problem with illegal dumping is that the filth/dirt does not just affect adults, but it also affects the children's health. We are raising children in Marry Me, and we can't have kids inhaling dirt and surrounded by flies as if we cannot do something about it. 
"Also, the safety issue is not just a police problem; if it is dark and the grass is too long, it is unsafe in this community. The MMC for housing told me we are bringing high-mast solar lights here; at least if lit, it is safer," she said. 
Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that a steering committee would be established with the government to formalise and manage community issues, including water, electricity, sewer, and roads. 
He urged the community to work with the police instead of working against them to deal with crime in the area. 
"We have elevated crime for special attention and monitoring, and we have employed additional police to patrol and work with Marry Me. 
"I urge you to calm down; there are people who, when police are brought here, the police are chased away, throwing them with stones. Please stop it, welcome the police to patrol the area and allow them to protect you.
"In terms of crime, the police will increase their numbers, the police will work with the community, the police will ensure that especially on Friday and Saturday nights, their presence is felt in Marry Me so that all of us can be safe," said Lesufi. 
He added that those who sold alcohol should register their businesses before the end of July or run the risk of having them closed.  
Lesufi expressed concern over the selling of alcohol in every third house in the area and the selling of drugs, which threatened the future of South Africa.
"Sell alcohol and have papers to do so because they are the ones that clearly state when to open and close your business; if you do not have papers, you will do as you wish because you do not obey the law.  
"Get your papers in order until the end of July, and after July, if you operate a tavern without papers, we will shut it down. We are not shutting down because we hate you, but we are shutting it down because we have to follow the law from now on," said Premier Lesufi. 
Lesufi expressed gratitude to the community of Marry Me for playing their part in burying the six murder victims, urging them to do the same to the one victim who passed away in the hospital on Wednesday. 
"We went to see the Mashabela family to pay our last respects. We made a promise that, in the same way, we buried the other six, we would do the same for them without any difference. We will carry their funeral costs as government and other partners. We will make sure the family is supported until they bury Philemon Mashabela.
"I would also like to thank the people who gave us information that led to the arrest of the perpetrator(s). We had asked the community to come forward with the information on this violent act, so those who gave information said it was exactly what they said," Lesufi said.