MEC hands over a bridge and bicycles
The MEC for public works, roads and transport, Ms Dumisile Nhlengethwa, visisted the Nkomazi area on Monday to celebrate Transport Month.
MASIBEKELA – The MEC for public works, roads and transport, Ms Dumisile Nhlengethwa, visisted the Nkomazi area on Monday to celebrate Transport Month.
Nhlengethwa officially handed over Road D2979, a bridge, and Shovakalula bicycles to the community. “It has come to our attention that so many cars would travel long distances to the other side.
We wanted to make the lives of our people easier, and today I am happy to be handing over this success,”she said.
She urged the people to take good care of the services delivered to them and not to damage infrastructure during service delivery protests. “This property is yours and yours to maintain. Do not burn the infrastructure during protests, such acts can no longer be tolerated.”
Nhlengethwa also condemned contractors who misuse the money allocated to the work, saying their focus should be on producing quality roads.
“We have spent almost R97,2 million on this project, and we are giving it a 20-year lifespan. Gone are the times when we settled for poor quality, we are now moving to building roads that will last longer before they need rehabilitation,” she added.
It was all smiles for the learners who received bicycles as they would not longer have to walk long distances to school. “Going to school has been very strenuous, the distance with heavy books on our backs, we would often arrive late.
I am personally thankful to the MEC and her department for putting us first. I am really excited about this bicycle and will surely take care of it,” said a grade seven learner of Emagcekeni Primary School, Samkelo Mpangane.
The day was concluded at the bridge where the MEC officially cut the ribbon and shared a toast with the rest of the team and community members. Sethu Mashele’s car was the first to cross the bridge officially, and a bottle of champagne from Nhlengethwa was the cherry on the top.
“I am so glad they have given this road to us, it is very smooth and I love it. Our lives as motorists have literally been made easier,” said Mashele.
