The Democratic Alliance’s initiative of building a footbridge over a stream in Schoemansdal village, Nkomazi Local Municipality, has had a major impact on the lives of the locals as it links them between schools, a cemetery, churches and their homes.
According to DA, for 25 years the community and pupils of Ward 27 were forced to cross a flooded stream to navigate between the near-by four schools, their homes, a local cemetery, churches and shops because the Nkomazi Local Municipality failed to build them a much-needed bridge. The stream becomes more dangerous during the rainy season as pupils had to take off their school uniforms and swim through order to get to school. In 2014, councillors gathered resources and built a temporary timber foot-bridge which the community used until early this year.
“In August this year, the DA approached JRM Pallets, a Hectorspruit based Timber Company, to donate materials to build a new foot-bridge. A couple of weeks ago the company donated a truck-load of materials and the councillors used their own money to hire three locals who built the bridge within a week. DA activists also participated in building the new structure. The DA is relieved that the community of Schoemansdal and pupils will be safe again using the newly constructed footbridge. We is committed to building One South Africa for All, where everyone benefits; not just the connected few.” said councillor Nomsa Mathabela.
