– DA welcomes R1.7 million culvert bridge project for Mugwazeni and Akanani following community activism and calls by the DA for municipal intervention.
-The bridge will provide learners and residents of Mugwazeni, Akanani and Nkambako with a safer route to schools, workplaces and neighbouring villages.
– The DA will monitor the project to ensure that it is properly completed, according to specification, within budget and without unnecessary delays.
The Democratic Alliance (DA)in Greater Tzaneen Municipality welcomes the appointment of a contractor to construct a culvert bridge between the Mugwazeni and Akanani communities in Ward 5, after the DA highlighted the community’s plight and called on the municipality to act.
The approximately R1.7 million project also follows sustained community activism after residents were forced to begin constructing their own makeshift bridge due to continued municipal inaction.
In May, the DA highlighted the dangerous conditions faced by learners and residents who had no safe route between Mugwazeni, Akanani and Nkambako.
Learners attending Mugwazeni Secondary School, Nkambako Primary School and Akanani Primary School were among those affected, while residents travelling to work were also forced to use unsafe routes.
The DA commends the residents of Mugwazeni and Akanani for standing together and demanding action. Their determination and willingness to contribute their own materials and labour helped ensure that this long-neglected matter could no longer be ignored.
The appointment of a contractor is an important step, but the municipality must now ensure that the project is completed properly, within the approved project budget and without unnecessary delays.
The DA will closely monitor the construction of the culvert bridge to ensure that:
• The contractor complies with all engineering and safety requirements;
• The project is completed according to the agreed specifications;
• The allocated R1.7 million is spent transparently and responsibly; and
• The culvert bridge provides residents and learners with a safe and lasting route between the affected villages.
The DA will continue working alongside residents and monitor the project until the bridge is completed and opened for public use.