Township Establishment in South Africa

Q: What is township establishment and when must you apply?

Township establishment is the process of converting farmland or unproclaimed land into a developed area, and you must apply for it when you intend to develop farmland or agricultural holdings.

Q: How much does township establishment cost in south Africa?

The cost of township establishment in South Africa can vary, but on average, an application can cost around R400,000, which includes specialist studies and the municipal application fee. It's important to note that this cost does not include municipal bulk contributions, which are charged separately by each municipality.

Q: How long does township establishment take?

The application timeline typically takes 12 to 18 months, including the acceptance of studies by relevant departments such as the Department of Agriculture for decisions like the Environmental Impact Assessment.

Q: What are the required documents for a township establishment south africa?

The required documents for a township establishment in South Africa include power of attorney, title deed, conveyancing certificate, zoning certificate, flood-line certificate, traffic impact assessment, engineering services assessment, Geo-technical report, environmental impact assessment, and more.

Experience a comprehensive overview of the township establishment process in Tshwane and Johannesburg municipalities with 2020 Planning Group.

Overview of the Process

Discover the step-by-step procedures involved in township establishment, governed by the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) of 2013.

Land Acquisition: Acquire the necessary land for your township development through strategic purchasing from private landowners or government sources.
Application for Township Establishment: Professional town planner must compile and lodge the application, including the submission of essential documents such as layout plans, motivation memorandums, and specialist studies.
Public Participation: The application must be advertised to engage interested and affected parties, where community input and feedback are considered for decision-making.
Approval and Conditions: after clearing all objections and concerns, the application is reviewed by planning department and the approval is given by the council, with conditions and requirements to meet.

Creating a township requires intricate planning and several legal processes, and involves establishing a fully functioning community with all necessary amenities and infrastructures. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for the process of township establishment.

Step 1: Document sourcing

Copy of title deed
Power of Attorney
Copy of Zoning Certificate
Company Certificate (Properties under company)
ID Copy (Properties under People/person)

Step 2: Pre application consultations

Confirm if municipality will support proposed development check availability of infrastructure: water, electricity, sewer and more Servitude that might be registered against property
Verification and analysis of all the potential title condition.
Verification of the property and extents Any additional studies the municipality might require

Step 3: Geo-tech Survey

Establish the amenability of the soil to human settlement and habitation

Step 4: Heritage Impact Assessment

Establish features and historical resources that may require preservation

Step 5: Topographic survey

Establish the contour and slope angle of the site to ensure best development approach

Step 6: Engineering Services Assessments

Establish areas affected or most likely to be affected by engineering services. This may also locate existing services and proposed future services area. Final services report and Flood line certificate

Step 7: Road Traffic Impact Study

Establish integration of the proposed development with the surrounding area in relation to access to and from the proposed site. Establish existing and proposed roads. Final traffic impact study report.

Step 8: Environmental Impact Assessment

Establish sensitivity of the environment and the resultant impact thereon as well as determination of the possible water-table on the ground. Final environmental impact assessment and ROD

Step 9: Conveyancing report

Assessment by conveyancing attorney of the property, title deed, servitude, conditions, and more. Final conveyancing certificate.

Step 10: Layout plan

Depending on number of stand the client wants town planners will draft a layout plan indicating: stands, zoning, roads, and more

Step 11: Planning Report and motivation memorandum

Preparation of the planning report based on all conducted studies and layout plan. The motivation memorandum on why the proposed township should be considered by the municipality.

Step 12: Application submission

The application is submitted to the relevant authority in the shape and form as may be required

Step 13: Circulation of the application

The application is circulated to all other relevant departments and institutions for comments both internal and externa

Step 14: Advertisement of the application

The application is advertised in the relevant media platforms and comments or objections are received.

Step 15: Approval and conditions of establishment

Once all the relevant comments are obtained, the application is approved subject to certain conditions of establishment

Step 16: General Plan for the township

Land surveyor will draft a general plan base off approved layout plan general plan will be submitted to SG office

Step 17: Opening of township register

Conditions of the township establishment General Plan approval Approved small scale diagrams

Step 18: Proclamation notice

Proclamation / declaration of the township as an approved township on the Government Gazette

Township Establishment

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Township Establishment in Tshwane and Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipalities and across South Africa