Tobie van den Bergh writes in his personal capacity.
Middelburg will know as early as Tuesday who will lead the town for the next five years. This points to only one thing: an agreement has been reached between the various political parties.
Politics can be a gamble, but if the signs are read correctly, the ANC and the DA have reached an agreement in just one week, which is remarkable. Most cities and towns will likely take at least two weeks to achieve this, and even then, consensus is not guaranteed.
While voters might argue that this is the very same ANC they voted against, options are limited. Either the ANC and DA work together, or an attempt is made to consolidate smaller parties such as the EFF and MK. Such an arrangement could result in an unstable council, something the town cannot afford.
The DA emerged as the major winner in the 2026 municipal elections and will likely secure the positions of mayor and speaker, as well as the majority of the portfolios on the mayoral committee.
The ANC will also be represented on the mayoral committee, though it remains unclear what positions have been negotiated.
Pressing infrastructure challenges
After Tuesday, it will be time to roll up sleeves and get to work, as the town’s infrastructure is teetering on the brink of collapse.
• Road maintenance: unless a resealing programme is initiated, the town will effectively have no roads left within a matter of months. This is not merely a matter of fixing potholes; roads such as Walter Sisulu, SADC (near the post office), Wirtrug in Aerorand, and numerous others are breaking up completely.
• Water supply: Groenkol, in particular, as well as parts of Aerorand and Dennesig, are experiencing significant problems with water pressure.
• Streetlights: many of the town’s streetlights have been out of order for years.
• The Kees Taljaard Stadium: the DA promised that the stadium would receive attention.
• Investigations into the sale of erven in Dennesig and the Mhluzi substation have dragged on for too long and will need to be addressed by the new council. Several officials have remained at home for months, while taxpayers are forced to foot the bill for their salaries. This demands action.
• The town’s coffers are empty due to corruption and lavish New Year’s parties, all paid for by taxpayers. Restoring the town to its former glory in these times will require ingenuity, perhaps even by involving the private sector.
A warning from neighbouring towns
Last week, eMakhazeni went eight days without water, and the roads in what was once a beautiful tourist town are completely ruined. Middelburg is not far from total decay. It will not be easy, but Grobler and his team, should he be elected, have a massive task ahead of them.
Fortunately, the councillors are Middelburgers through and through, with the town’s best interests at heart; things can only get better.
This column is the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of Observer.
