For the longest time, the footbridge that connects Green Village to Emndeni South has been posing a safety risk for those who use it, and the situation is not improving.
After coming across many cases of safety complaints, residents in Emndeni are pleading for something to be done about that bridge.
The bridge lies low on a small stream in the middle of a wetland, so not only is it secluded but also runs the risk of flooding.
“As it is a rainy season, this bridge is the worst to use because sometimes it becomes flooded and that makes it risky to cross. The worst part is when you are late for school and you approach the bridge, only to find out that it is flooded and you would be forced to go back and around to the other side of Green Village and use the Emndeni link road just to be able to go to school,” said Sibusiso Gumede.
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The councillor of Ward 130 is aware of the situation and confirms that municipality has long requested for the bridge to be reconstructed.
“It is unfortunate that my requests for infrastructural development in the Provincial Infrastructural Development Programme (IDP) were included and budgeted for but the money was never actually made available.
“Recently a person died on that very same bridge from flooding, and this wouldn’t be the first time, so the reconstruction of that bridge is a serious and burning issue.
“In addition to the bridge, we have requested the establishment of an eco-park to be done in Emndeni during the 2016/17 financial budget to be able to deal with the long grass that grows on the wetland and the illegal dumping,” said councillor David Monamodi.
