Cogta refutes cope’s allegation of unbuilt bridges

MBOMBELA – After a whole lot of bickering from the opposition party, Cope in the

province that the Ehlanzeni District Municipality did not build one of the

bridges damaged during storms in 2012, the department of co-operative governance

and traditional affairs (Cogta) has come out in defence of the district

municipality and confirmed that all work mandated for disaster relief, had been

completed.

The MEC, Mr Simon Skhosana, has convened a special meeting of the

Mayors, Councillors and Senior Officials of Ehlanzeni District and Bushbuckridge

Local municipalities on behalf of Premier David Mabuza, to look into the

allegations levelled against them that there were some bridges which were

supposed to have been repaired or reconstructed during the reconstruction phase

and were not.

The meeting has once again confirmed that all the 19 bridges

that were identified as having been damaged by the January 2012 floods were

repaired or reconstructed as per governments decision.

The Ehlanzeni

District Municipality was appointed the Implementing Agent for Bushbuckridge

Municipality in the repair and reconstruction of the damaged bridges. A

distinguishing feature was that these bridges had to be repaired or

reconstructed as a matter of urgency as some communities were cut off and their

normal livelihood had to be restored.

Work on the repairing the damaged

bridges commenced in May 2012 and was completed in November 2012. Throughout the

reconstruction phase, the political committee comprising of the MEC for

Co-operative Governance, the Executive Mayors and Councillors from both

Ehlanzeni District and Bushbuckridge Local municipalities were monitoring the

work that was being done.

Skhonsana would like to confirm that the 19 bridges

as identified for repair or reconstruction after the floods have been completed

and the projects are there on site with cordinates. “ It is unfortunate that

some individuals have decided to tarnish the good work that was done by

government to restore the livelihood of the communities that were cut off by

spreading misinformation. They have instead chose to grandstand and play for the

gallery on a matter that affects the lives of our people,” said Skhosana.

Skhosana has also welcomed the investigations being conducted by the Public

Protector on this matter and will await the outcome of her report.

Skhosana and Excutive Mayors Lettah Shongwe and Renias Khumalo will revisit the projects

and the media will be invited to join them on the visit.

Meanwhile, Cope also

released a statement in which they purported that the executive mayor of EDM,

Cllr Letta Shongwe was turned away at an MPAC meeting in Durban earlier this

week and ordered to return home to sort out the bridge matter.