MIDDELBURG – A fall on an unpaved, poorly lit walkway has left 74-year-old Gogo Esther Mdluli with a permanent knee injury, a painful experience she says could have been prevented had long-standing service delivery concerns been addressed.

The Mhluzi Extension 6 resident shared her story during the Mpumalanga Provincial Government's Pre-Taking the Legislature to the People (Pre-TLP) public hearing at Adelaide Tambo Community Hall on Friday, 26 June 2026.

The hearing marked the conclusion of the two-day Pre-Taking the Legislature to the People (Pre-TLP) programme, held from 25 to 26 June in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. The programme gives residents an opportunity to raise service delivery concerns directly with Members of the Executive Council (MECs), provincial departments and municipal representatives.

Mdluli said she fell and broke her knee while walking along an unpaved footpath between Tokologo and Extension 8 after tripping over a rock in complete darkness between the Tokologo four-way stop and Junction Lifestyle.

"I can't even walk properly now. My knee is finished and has a green scar," Mdluli told officials.

She said the injury was the result of years of neglected infrastructure.

"As residents of Extension 6, we are not taken seriously by Steve Tshwete Municipality. We've been begging for paved sidewalks and working streetlights for years. Nothing happens."

"We are sitting in the dark as if we are living on the farms. Is this how gogos must live in 2026?"

Her testimony left the hall in silence as other residents nodded in agreement. For many in Extension 6, her experience reflected broader frustrations over deteriorating service delivery.

Mdluli was among dozens of residents from across Steve Tshwete Local Municipality who used the platform to raise concerns about service delivery.

Among the issues raised were:

• Frequent water and electricity interruptions.

• Long waiting lists for RDP houses and delays in issuing title deeds.

• Youth unemployment.

• Drug and alcohol abuse.

• Local SMMEs being excluded from municipal projects.

• Underground water flooding graves in local cemeteries.

Residents also identified Lesedi and Naledi as areas requiring urgent intervention.

Health MEC Sasekani Manzini, responding on behalf of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, assured residents that every concern raised had been recorded.

"All issues raised by residents have been recorded, and the Executive Council will meet during the September Taking the Legislature to the People week to develop a full provincial response," she said.

Manzini also announced immediate health interventions, including the deployment of two additional ambulances, further training for emergency personnel and a dedicated reporting number for ambulance delays. Residents were encouraged to report delayed ambulance services on 076 870 8769.

Deputy Speaker of the Mpumalanga Legislature Sam Masango said all concerns raised during the hearings would be consolidated into a report through the Legislature's portfolio committees.

"That report will be sent to the government for implementation," he said.

Masango said the Legislature would continue monitoring progress and provide feedback to communities through portfolio committee processes, future Legislature engagements and the September Taking the Legislature to the People programme.