Several towns and cities in South Africa have reached a point of no return.

Johannesburg is perhaps the best example of a once-prosperous global city that has turned into a slum.

It is so bad that President Cyril Ramaphosa has already sent a team to the city to solve the water problems.

Johannesburg residents have been without water for weeks, and hospital toilets are overflowing.

After residents of Steve Tshwete Municipality complained about the decay in the town, action is now being taken.

Last week, Councillor San-Marie Wait proudly showed how neat it is in the Samora Machel Street cemetery, after the cemetery had long been overgrown.
Grass was cut, weeds were removed, and the entire area was cleaned.

This morning, Councillor Elsie Vermooten made videos and photos available after she, together with the Steve Tshwete Municipality and two residents, George Papapavlou and Mahmood Akhalwaya, investigated the street lights that are not working, especially in Gholfsig.

“Some of the street lights have not been on for nine years,” said Vermooten.

In Ward 14 alone, 250 street lights are not working.

The good news is that work will begin tomorrow (February 20) to repair the lights.

Pessimistic residents will indeed ask, “Why did it take them so long to do something?”

That should not be the question; the question should be, “Where can we get involved or where can we make a difference?”

The action on Wednesday evening was already on the initiative of Ward 14 committee member Akhalwaya.

The Middelburg Observer investigated the extent of the non-working street lights at 04:00 last week and was shocked to discover that Middelburg was shrouded in darkness.

Not even at the entrance from Groblersdal is there a light working. It is pitch black all the way past the SAVF Old Age Home.

Vermooten has undertaken to keep the Middelburg Observer and residents informed when work on the street lights begins.