“I dread the day a child falls and hurts themselves, or even dies,” says worried Ladysmith resident Silandra Makardoij. His fear concerns Bellspruit Bridge located in Shepstone Road, and he is not the only one who has grave concerns. The barrier poles on both sides of the structure are virtually non-existent, so someone could easily fall off into the river below.
Some of the poles are not there at all, while others are broken and dangling off the structure.
On Monday morning, October 7, Silandra was driving past and noticed three school-going boys standing on the bridge. He told the Ladysmith Gazette that he noticed the youngest boy, of around five or six years old, looking down off the bridge. He exclaimed that the hair on his hands literally stood up, as he feared the young boy would fall to his death.
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“This bridge needs to be fixed as soon as possible, as a school is opening soon in the same street, so children will be using this bridge every day. Someone is going to get hurt, mark my words,” said a stressed Silandra.
DA Councillor Sharon Buys told the Ladysmith Gazette that she has reported this matter to the municipal manager twice, with photos, and until now, she has received no response.
“My concern is for the children. They need protection. Also due to no barriers on this bridge, it is a motor vehicle accident waiting to happen,” commented Cllr Buys.
The municipality has not commented on the matter.
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