WATCH: Elderly man fixes a pothole in Gauteng
A video of an elderly man fixing a pothole in Gauteng has gone viral. While many have called him a hero, others have expressed outrage at the government.
Not all heroes wear capes, some just carry a shovel and a fierce determination to keep their suspension intact.
In Germiston, an elderly man took up a noble cause – fighting back against a pothole so notorious it might as well have its own postal code.
A video posted by MDN News on X captured the moment when this road-repairing vigilante pulled over on Barbara Road, armed with nothing but grit (both literal and figurative) to fix what our government has ignored.
According to the woman filming, this particular pothole has been a repeat offender, allegedly causing multiple car accidents.
And yet, instead of road crews swooping in, it was this determined citizen who took matters into his own hands.
Check out the heroic moment below:
Elderly white man repairing a large pothole in Germiston, Gauteng, which has allegedly caused numerous car accidents. pic.twitter.com/4WH0bQTAUu
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) March 27, 2025
As expected, social media erupted in applause.
Some hailed him as a hero, while others turned their frustration toward the government for letting things get this bad in the first place.
@GodPenuel called the man, "A true South African hero."
@4real_farrell had a different view, "And our government will probably issue a warning on some 'we encourage citizens to not take these matters into their own hands' while they continue doing absolutely nothing."
However, @Markosonke1 made a startling realisation, "Potholes are now so bad, retirement hobbies have shifted from gardening to road maintenance."
Either way, one thing is clear – this man wasn’t just fixing a hole, he was making a statement.
So, should we start a petition to knight him? Or at the very least, give this man a Bell's?
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