KwaNongoma mayor questions fuss over controversial ‘bridge’

KwaNongoma Municipality mayor Albert Mncwango has said a causeway, pictures of which have been trending on social media with some users questioning the amount spent for it, was not a waste of money.

Pictures of the mayor accompanied by the municipality’s council members at a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the causeway have been trending social media, with some users taking issue with its design and cost.

KwaNongoma Municipality Mayor Albert Mncwango in Kwazulu Natal has officially opened a R2 million plus bridge. pic.twitter.com/lez3hEM5hi

— Blessings Ramoba ???????? (@BlessingsRamoba) December 9, 2020

Mncwango said the bridge, which was “not an overnight” job, cost between an estimated R3.5 million and R4 million, with construction work having started on 15 April 2019 and its official opening held on Tuesday.

A project of this kind involves “a lot of work” and workers, including consultants, architects and designers, among others, which contributed to the total money spent on it, the mayor said.

Official opening of a 4 million rand bridge KwaNongoma Kwazulu Natal. ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/sRhDFKgZba

— Mweli Masilela (@mwelimasilela) December 9, 2020

The pictures on social media were not a true depiction of the entire project, the mayor said, adding that there were pictures available that show the area before the causeway was constructed and which would indicate why a decision was taken to build it.

“At face value, it looks like cement was just poured over the river,” the mayor said, explaining that the causeway runs 5 metres to 6 metres deep into the river bed.

Mncwango added that a causeway did not look like a multi-million overheard bridge, which the municipality could not afford anyway.

The causeway, he said, was not a waste of money and its construction resulted in the communities in the area getting an 8km long road which was not there.

Mncwango said about four children going to school had lost their lives trying to cross the river where the causeway had been constructed.

The construction of the causeway, he added, had solved the problem of school pupils having to cross the river which floods during the rainy season. Challenges around transportation had also been resolved, the mayor said.

The mayor said the social media posts mocking the causeway did not mention that the community appreciated its construction.

Mncwango added that the budget for the causeway was accepted unanimously by the municipality’s multi-party council, saying that the ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by councillors from different political parties.

He said “it was very unfortunate” that “government and legislature leaders” were among those spreading “misinformation” on social media about the causeway.

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