LIMPOPO – The rural community of Lambani outside Thohoyandou is often cut off from other villages during the rainy season.
For many years they have pleaded with the municipality to build them a proper bridge, and when the building of the bridge finally started in 2019, the entire community was filled with joy and excitement.
The project was, however, stalled due to what the community believes is a result of an incompetent contractor employed by the municipality.
The bridge, with a budget of over R26 million, was supposed to have been completed in 11 months and now, almost two years later, there are no signs of it being completed despite promises by the municipality that the contractor is about to finish.
The community is angry and disappointed and they feel let down by the democratic government.
A source close to the situation, who wishes to remain anonymous, confided that the project faces many challenges which range from a shortage of staff, late payment of staff and engineering errors.
“Things are not going well on this project and it seems the municipality contracted an incompetent contractor who does not have the know how. Workers twice had to demolish the structures that were found to be in default. Workers had to protest to get paid and this lead to no work being done.
“To add insult to the injury, the municipality seem unbothered by what is happening here. Work stopped some three weeks back and no reasons were given,” he said.
Traditional leader, chief Patrick Lambani said he was disappointed by what is happening.
“We are one of the most rural communities here in Thulamela and we have not seen much change since the dawn of democracy.
“We were very happy to see a bridge being built at our village and expectations were high that more developments would be coming our way. We are shocked to see no progress of the project,” he explained.
Lambani said the bad road makes the situation worse and added that patients can “die without help as there is no way out of the village”.
Lambani blamed the municipality for not ensuring that the project is completed.
“It seems as if we are not part of the new South Africa. There has been no improvement in our lives here. We see these politicians during elections and they swiftly vanish after that,” he said.
Thulamela Municipality Spokesperson, Ndwamato Tshiila was adamant that the contractor was on site despite evidence to the contrary, stating that the project would be completed at the end of August.
“It is a work-in-progress and we reiterate and assure the community that the project has not been abandoned.
“The bridge will be completed as planned and within the budgeted amount,” he concluded.
