A dedicated group of Prestbury community members grabbed their paintbrushes to transform a tired old tram shelter into a beacon of hope, complete with a dazzling sunflower mural that’s hard to miss!
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (02 November 2025) – About a year ago, the Keep PMB Clean Action Group (KPCA) launched a campaign known as “The Promise in Prestbury”, and vowed to restore the Pietermaritzburg suburb to its former glory – if not better.
One year later, the group has remained committed to the mission, having hosted a clean-up station, cut back alien invasives, fixed the bridge railing and cleared gutters, to name a few noteworthy efforts.
“Ever since then, we have maintained it as well as Mayors Walk that leads to this suburb,” shares KPCA Executive Director Lara Edmonds.
More recently, a local family and volunteers this month tackled another eyesore that had long been on their list of things to improve in Prestbury – the tram shelter.
Now what was once an old and neglected public facility, boasts a fresh coat of green and a bright sunflower mural that’s hard to miss or not appreciate!
“Its twin is in Scottsville, and back in the day, folk used to travel by tram from Scottsville to the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Mayor’s Walk.
“It was the Fortmann Family who decided to paint the shelter green. Then I just encouraged Louise and Rose to do the mural with Catrien Fortman. We had dreamed about doing it.”
Lara adds that the choice of painting sunflowers offered a powerful symbol of hope.
And what a difference their initiative and creativity have made!
“I love this story, because citizens are heeding our call to ‘Rise and Reclaim PMB’. A huge shout-out to the Sunshine Ladies: Rose, Louise and Catrien, who have been painting the tram shelter. It is still a work in progress, but it is already stunning!
“Isn’t it wonderful to watch hope grow in Prestbury? This rise to take the tram shelter is a wonderful measure of success. It means our campaigns are hitting the ground.”
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