The spontaneous tongue-lashing from 60-year-old Khulisile Luzipho came after roads and public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu, Mnquma municipality mayor Baba Ganjana and Mnquma ward councillor Nomonde Jiya arrived at a construction site promising to build residents a new bridge – but without the necessary materials arriving.
But Ganjana pleaded with the community to be patient and to keep their hopes alive.
Marawu said they had arrived empty-handed because of the breakdown. She promised materials for the bridge would arrive soon and construction of the new bridge, which will cross the Bawa River, would take only 28 days to complete.
In 1993, 11 people drowned when the bakkie in which they were travelling was swept away by the swollen river.
Some of the 20 locals set to work on the new bridge are relatives of those who died in the accident more than 20 years ago.
Marawu said they would build the bridge with the help of military veterans within the Department of Defence. They would use stock from old Military Bailey bridges used in World War 2.
A Bailey bridge is a prefabricated truss bridge with manually connected panels from one end to another. It is highly labour intensive and versatile.
Marawu said this would ensure the bridge stood the test of time for many generations to come.
She said the department had set aside R34-million to construct five such bridges in the Eastern Cape. Luzipho, who saved three people from drowning in the fateful incident in 1993, said he would believe it when he saw it. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za