LIMPOPO – The Greater Giyani Municipality (GGM) is being called to urgently address deteriorating security measures across government infrastructure in Muyexe village, a site once celebrated for its ground-breaking rural development pilot project.

When it was launched in 2007, the initiative aimed to combat systemic poverty and underdevelopment in rural areas by introducing sustainable infrastructure and services. Among its successes was the installation of solar-powered streetlights, which transformed the village by enhancing night-time safety and enabling extended community activities after dark.

However, a decade later, the project’s legacy hangs in the balance. Much of the infrastructure, including the once-reliable solar lighting system, has either vanished or fallen into severe disrepair due to rampant vandalism and neglect.

The streetlights, which once illuminated key paths and public spaces, now stand as rusted skeletons, their solar panels stripped and cables torn out. This prompted the community in the village to seek help from the municipality.

The decay has not only erased the project’s tangible benefits but also reignited fears of insecurity, particularly after dark despite the presence of a newly opened police station in the village.
Compounding the issue is the vulnerability of government buildings linked to the initiative. Facilities like the community hall and service centre, which provide essential services such as postal and banking services, have become targets for theft and vandalism.

Speaking on behalf of the community of Muyexe during the GGM public participation event (imbizo) on Friday, Hosi Muyexe argued that the lack of security personnel and government cleaners contributes to the deterioration of infrastructure.

“If you take a look at where we’re now, you will see signs of decay due to a lack of maintenance and cleaners to keep this place tidy,” he said during a briefing at the village’s service centre, where most government buildings and services are housed.

The situation has sparked demands for immediate intervention. Community leaders stress that restoring security is not just about protecting physical assets but also revitalising trust in public initiatives. “We cannot talk about rural development if we cannot safeguard the very infrastructure meant to uplift us,” remarked a local activist, Soza Rivele.

“We have a beautiful hall here which was supposed to be serving us, but it has been vandalised. We also had solar systems everywhere in this village and computers for our kids, but today all of that has vanished,” he said.

Responding to this, the Local Economic Development (LED) head in Giyani, Cllr Cedric Baloyi, acting as mayor, promised to look into the matter but urged the community to safeguard their property to prevent vandalism.

“Unlike other villages, you have all the infrastructure you need for a comfortable life here. However, it is crucial to protect this infrastructure because, no matter what we do as a municipality, if you do not take care of your buildings yourselves, it will all be in vain,” he said.

He also promised that the municipality would address the issue of security for all government infrastructure in the area to ensure safety and proper maintenance. “As a municipality, we have taken the initiative to ensure that all government infrastructure in Giyani is provided with security to prevent vandalism,” he said.