Whenever the president visits Middelburg, it seems the municipality starts to clean house, as roadsides and public spaces suddenly receive attention.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the opening of the new King Nyabela District Hospital on Tuesday (August 4).
Like last year’s visit, potholes are being fixed, and streets are being painted.
“It’s just because the president is visiting the town,” said one resident.
Others counter with, “At least it’s being done.”
The Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s communications department had to answer one short question: “Are the potholes being fixed as a result of the president’s visit?” The Observer is still waiting for an answer.
Residents cannot, of course, be blamed for thinking the town is getting a facelift because the president is visiting again.
When Ramaphosa was the guest speaker at the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ International Workers’ Day celebrations at the Kees Taljaard Stadium last year, they were astonished one morning to see roads around the stadium being painted and potholes repaired.
Special equipment was even used to upgrade the roads.
23 Potholes in one street
Two homeless people, who were living in a tent near the stadium, had their meagre belongings removed by the police, much to their dismay.
Within a year, Asalia Street had become a pothole paradise, with no prospect of the 23 potholes being repaired.
The Kees Taljaard Stadium has also fallen into disrepair, with conditions so poor that the Middelburg Rugby Club can no longer use the venue.
Hospital staff’s responsibilities
The new hospital is about 10km from the stadium where the president was the guest speaker.
Perhaps the president will also address the staff at the hospital about their responsibilities, because, since the hospital’s opening, there have been several shocking articles on the Observer’swebsite, including: ‘Gates locked by protesters at King Nyabela Hospital in Middelburg’, ‘Elderly ‘half naked’ in dying moments at King Nyabela Hospital’, ‘Well-known resident writes to minister about ‘unacceptable’ treatment at King Nyabela Hospital’, and ‘Woman in physical altercation with security at new hospital’.
