UD Express - E-Edition - 5 February 2026

Littlehands, Littlehands bigtreats

StreetlightcrisisplungeshundredsofKariegastreetsintodarkness

SHANTI JAFTA

KEY arterial roads in Kariega remain without functional streetlights, forcing thousands of daily commuters tonavigate critical infrastructure in darkness.

The affected routes include the R75, Old Cape Road, the R334 from Uitenhage Farms toDaniel Pienaar Street,and Old Uitenhage RoadtoDurban Street, where non-functional streetlights have left drivers dependent on vehicle headlights to navigatepotential hazards including potholes and road obstacles during nighttime travel.

More than 140 streets across Kariega’s Ward48and Ward 49 are currently without functional streetlights,withWard 48 Councillor Franay Van de Linde reporting 81 affected streets in her ward alone, of which 61 remain unrepaired despitea R200,000 maintenance budget allocation

Contractors appointed last year toaddress thebackloghave ceased work owing to Supply Chain Management challenges within the municipality. This leaves residents in areas including Kamesh Road, Nightingale Street, and dozens of other locations withoutstreet lighting for extended periods.

Van de Linde has provided comprehensive statistics regarding the streetlight crisis affecting her ward. Theinformation revealsthe extentofthe lighting problems and their impact on community safety.

“Ward 48 is currently dealing with streetlight failures across 81 streets throughout theward,” she said.

“Early last year, 20 streetlightswere successfully repaired and restoredtoworking condition. However, some of these previouslyrepairedlightshavesince failed againand arenolongerfunctioning. This leaves 61 streets across the ward that re-

main without proper lighting and still require urgent attention.”

Regarding service response and causes,she said the average responsetime forstreetlight repairs is approximately7 days

“The primarycause of streetlight failures inWard48isvandalism, whichappears to be an ongoing challenge affecting the infrastructure. The ward has been allocateda budgetofR200,000 specifically forstreetlight maintenance purposes."

Whilst contractors wereappointedlast year to address the streetlight backlog, she added that the project has come to acompletehalt duetointernal Supply Chain Management challenges

“There is currentlynoprogress being made on resolvingthese issues,leaving residentsincreasinglyfrustrated with the lack of service delivery.”

The lack of proper street lighting has created serious safety and securityconcernsfor Ward 48 residents.

“Peopletravelling to and from workusing public transport arebeing robbed, and break-ins have escalated significantly in theaffected areas. Criminal elementsare taking advantage of the darknesstocarry out illegal activities, making residents feel unsafe in theirown neighbourhoods,” shesaid.

Van de Linde added that they haveattemptedtoaddress these concerns by tablingtwo motions at the council last week aimed at resolvingthe streetlight crisis

“However, bothmotions wererejected by thecoalition government, whichdismissed the proposals as unimportant,despitethe clear impact on residents’ safety and qualityoflife.

Ward 49 Councillor Georgen Miggels also provided acomprehensivelistof streetlight outages across his ward.

Miggels noted extensive streetlight fail-

ures throughout Ward49, affecting numerous residential streets.

“Many entire streets are without lighting, including areas such as Pheasant Drive,ColibriDrive,Fantail Avenue, and CormorantCrescent where alllights are reported as non-functional. Additionally, several streets havepartial outagesaffectingspecifichouse numbers or sections.”

He added that the affected areas span across residential neighbourhoods with bird-themed street names suchasNightingaleStreet, Robin Lane, StarlingDrive, Lovebird Street, Swift Street, and Falcon Street.

“Some locations havebeenwithout proper lighting for extended periods, with one entrynoting that lights on 20 Bokmakierie Street haven’t worked sincelast year.”

Miggelsnoted that high-priority areas requiringstreetlight repairs include main intersections, cornersofmajorroads like Kamesh Road and Acacia Avenue, and locations near community facilitiessuchas the MiddleStreet Clinic

When asked how many havebeen repaired, Miggelssaid none that he is aware of have been fixedrecently, even after escalating thismatter to the NMBM.

“We had ameeting in Novemberbetween the Kariega/KwaNobuhle councillors, MMC,officialsand contractors. There weretwo contractors, one for mainroads and one for residential streets,” he said

“They requested lists from us,which Ihave submitted. The contractorthen called me at the end of November saying he would come to my officethe next day, which never happened.

“I have not heard from him since.Ithen informedthe MMC in Decemberand early January, whereshe promised to intervene. Ihad no luck with her. Ithen went to the Superintendent in charge of the Kariega project who then informed me

that no residentialstreetlights would be fixedasthere wasnobudgetleft.

“I want to categorically state that no lights were fixedinwards 48, 49 and 50,” concludedMiggels

Ward 51 Councillor Roelf Basson said between 300 and400 street lights have been non-functionalfor thepasttwo to three years.

“Weprepared anddistributed apetition whichwas signed by 3026 online signatories and 461 physically signed in the office.This amongstother pressure by the party resulted in anumber of contractors being appointed at theend of lastyear to attend mostly to main streets.”

Basson addedthatthe contractors started work in only two andahalf streets and no work in theward has been done to date

“These contractors are unfortunately dealing with thewholeofKariega,and Ward 51, it seems, is not apriority for the management.Myrequest wastointroduce afairrotation of work to different areas for abalancedapproach.”

He addedthatthere wasnobudget allocation for streetlights for the 2025/26 financialyearbut theward is getting financialassistance throughdepartmental funding from electricity

Owing to worsening vandalism,the Vanes Neighbourhood Watch donated severallamps afteritwas reportedthat the required models had been discontinued. Basson addedthat althoughthe electricity department hadpromised to install them, thework hasnot yetbeen done Basson concluded,“The onlyway to progress with this very pressingissueis to hold management accountable and follow up on aweekly basis.”

The municipality wasapproachedfor comment butdid not respond at the time of going to print.

Somalicommunity,hospital engagementsparkslocalprotest

SHANTI JAFTA

AN engagement between the Somali Community in Kariega and the Uitenhage Provincial Hospital (UPH) Board has sparked controversy among some Kariega residents, culminating in aprotest on 30 January 2026.

The meeting, held on 27 January, wasconvenedbetween representatives of the Somali Community, led by ChairpersonAbdul Omar, andmembers of the UPH Board. It was chaired by Tim Macquire, the Board Treasurer and Sub-Committee Chairpersonfor Infrastructure. Also in attendance wasCharlotte Bouwer,Chairperson of the Patient Care andQuality Assurance portfolio,alongwith representatives from organised labour. During the meeting, SomaliCommunity repentati ed ciati forthe

acomprehensive report for hospital management, incorporatingproposals discussed during the meeting.

Macquire laterclarifiedthat the engagement aroseafter theSomaliCommunity expressed adesire to donate toiletries to the hospital as agesture of gratitude, notingthat many in the communityhave been part of South African society forthe past 30 years followingcivil unrestinSomalia.

He statedthat he had advisedthat apreliminary meeting be heldwith himself as Treasurer, alongside union representativesand another Board member, to assess thehospital’s needs before any donation or partnershipwas formalised. He further noted that language and cultural barriers were acknowledgedaschallenges, whichSomalirepresentativesundertook to address withintheirown community. M uire confirmedthat “the gagement

SRVMpartnerswithGCISto promotepublicinformation

IN line with its constitutional obligation to promote transparent governance and ensure public access to information, the Sundays River Valley Municipality partnered with the Government Communications andInformation System (GCIS) to host an information-sharing activation in Nqweba Town on Friday, 30 January 2026.

Municipal andGovernment Communication andInformation System (GCIS) teams engagedwith residents along Main Street, raising awareness about theState of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thurs-

day, 12 February 2026 at 19:00, and emphasised theimportance of citizens watching or listening to theaddress as part of activepublic participation in democracy. The engagement also served as aplatform to reinforce themunicipality’s commitment to effective communication and service delivery.

Residents were informed about the various ways to contact themunicipality for services and enquiries, and were cautioned about job scams as thecitrus harvesting season approached, as well as general eventsthat wouldaffect residents in theValley.

‘Miraclebaby’Mi-Landrithrives afterlife-savingheartsurgery

SHANTI JAFTA

AT 18 months old, Mi-Landri van Ghent is doing well and continuing to grow into alively, curious toddler; afar cry from the critically ill baby she once was Mi-Landri,from Kariega,was just 10 weeksold when shewas diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA), alife-threatening congenital heart condition in which the aorta and pulmonary arteries are reversed.

The condition required urgent surgery that could be performed only in Cape Town.

UD Express previously reported that after being stabilised at Cuyler Hospital and assessed by a cardiologist, Mi-Landri was transferred to Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, where she underwent life-saving heart surgery.

Within 24 hours, acommunity effort secured her ahospitalbed and aprivateflight.

According to her mother, Stephanie van Ghent, Mi-Landri’s recovery has been remarkable.

“She’s one year and six months now, and she’s doing great. She goes for check-ups everysix months to make surethere are no obstructions as she grows,and she sees her paediatrician every month to check her weight and makesure

she’sgrowing properly,” shesaid.

Van Ghent added that MiLandri’s energy andfriendliness

often surprise people.

“She’s such afriendly baby. Whereverwego, she waves at everyone and smiles at everyone. Sheloves beingoutdoors.Noone wouldeversay this is thebaby whowas so sickinhospital.”

Now keepingupwith otherchildren her age, Mi-Landri is active, expressive and meeting developmental milestones.

“She doeseverythingother children her age do,” VanGhent said proudly.

“She’s learntnew words andcalls everyonebyname: ouma, oupa, mamma and dadda.”

Van Ghent added thather daughterhas developedher ownways of communicating her needs.

“Whenit’stime for abath, she lets us know.Ifshe points to the bedroom with her finger, we know shewantstogotobed.When she wants to show you something,she will callyou and showyou,and if she gets hurtshe knowsthe word ‘eina’. She’s very clever for alittle girl her age, especially after being in hospital for so long.”

For Van Ghent, Mi-Landri’ssmile today represents morethan happiness; it symbolises resilience.

“She went through alot when she was ababy. She’sbeen loved by everyone, and to us she’s amiracle fromGod,” Van Ghent concluded

NuwerolvirMaxasafrigter

HANNES SCHOEMAN

TERWYL diegestremde liggaamsbouer Max Kulati voorberei vir ’n strawwe 2026, bevind hy hom skielik in dierol van afrigter Saterdag (7 Februarie)ishy aan Chantelle du Mont-Nell se sy wanneer sy aan dieEasternCape Classic-kragoptelkompetisie by die Kaap Receife-skool in Somerstrand deelneem. Haar deelname is uiters indrukwekkend as in ag geneem word dat sy nou net sowat ’n maandoefen.

“Chantelle het op 5Januarie vir die eerste keer by dieMetrogym in Kariega ingestap. Sy het gestaan en kyk hoe ek ander lede afrig en ek het haar gevraombyons aan te sluit.

“Dit was sommer so klein kompetisieomtesienwie diesterkste

man en vrou in diegym is om opwinding vir die lede te verskaf.

“Ek het haar toe oorreed om deel te neem waarop sy tweede geëindighet. Ek kon sien sy is sterken dat sy wilskrag het.

“Ek het toe besluitomhaar vir’n regte kompetisie in te skryfomdat sy daarvan hou om met swaar gewigte te oefen. My voorstel dat ons kragoptel doen het haar onmiddelliklaat glimlag en nou gaan ons voluitdaarvoor

“Ja, uiteraard is ek op my senuwees, maar ook gelukkigomdat dit dieeerste keer sal wees dat ek my op diévlak begewe. Vir my is dit ’n reuse-uitdaging en ek hoop dat ditvorentoe ook ander deurevir my sal oopmaak in sport,” sê Max. Chantelle sal in diemeesters1-afdeling en in diegewigsgroep onder 83kg deelneem.

Max Kulatikyk toedat Chantelle du Mont-Nell die dooiegewigoptel reg doen FOTO:VERSKAF

FROM working across multiplemedical practices to establishingher ownGP-led service, Doctor CiaraJackson is steadily carving out anew,moremindful approachtoprimaryhealthcareinKariega.

Founded in December 2022, Mindful Medicinefirstopenedits doorsatthe SavalotDelmayCentreinThomasGamble. Now, as thepractice grows,Jackson hasexpanded into asecond,moreaccessiblelocation— amedicalhub situated within aresidential area in Mosel, on Thorn Street, aimed at bringingquality healthcare closer to wherepeoplelive. Thenew branch,located in awheelchair-friendlybuilding,responds directly tochallengesfacedattheoriginalsite.“Our first premiseswerenot wheelchair accessible, whichmadeitdifficult forelderly patients or those with mobilityissues,” Jackson explained. “Accessibilitybecamea

priorityas thepractice grew.”

Mindful Medicineoperatesasanintegratedpracticeacrossbothlocations,using afullyelectronic, cloud-based system that allowspatientstoattend either branch whilemaintaining continuityofcare.

“Patientsdon’t have to startfromscratch if they visit adifferentsite; their care remains consistent,”she said.

Jackson’s journey into private practice wasshaped by both professional experience and personalinsight. “I worked parttimeatvarious practicesbeforedeciding to startmyown,” shenoted. “I had limited resources, butIreceivedsupportfromcolleagues whohelped me get started. Being fromthe neighbourhood also helped; patients already knew me. ”

Thepractice offerscomprehensive GP services, including acuteand chroniccare, preventative screening,women’s health, familymedicineand minor procedures.

In addition,Mindful Medicineprovides focused GP-led servicessuchasironinfusion therapy, structured weight management programmes andbasicbotulinum toxin treatments offered conservatively within amedicalframework

Mental healthcare is agrowingfocus of thepractice,particularly in atownwhere access to psychiatricservicesremains limited. “Thereiscurrentlynoresidentpsychiatrist in Kariega, and manypatientsare forced to travel or wait months forhelp,” Jackson said.

To help bridgethisgap,the practice will be joined part-timebyDoctor Lee-Ann Zealand,amedicalpractitioner with extensive experience in psychiatry.“This allows us to supportpatientswhose needs go beyond routineGPcarewhile they awaitspecialist treatment,” Jackson explained.

TheMosel premises also house inde-

pendentlypractising allied health professionals, including psychologistsand psychometrists,allowingforeasierreferral pathways when needed. “Whilewepractise independently, workinginthe same spaceimproves communication and patientexperience,”she added.

Among thepsychologistsare Yolandi Swanepoel, LynetteMinnaar and Lance Jacobs. Of thepsychometristsare Alyssa Jackson and Rhumildé Fortuin.

Jackson described MindfulMedicine as apractice still finding itsfeet. “Starting something newinasmall town is always arisk,”she said. “You neverknowhow the community will respond, butwe’ve been metwith patience and support.”

Sheconcluded: “Wewantpatientstofeel thatoncethey’re here, they cangrowwith us. We’reapproachable,reliable, and close tohome;healthcarethatfitsintoeveryday life.”

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