KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka, handed over the Mpophomeni River Bridge project estimated to cost R36 million to a contractor on Friday.
According to the department, the bridge is located on P487 by the Vungu High School sports ground in KwaCeza within the Ulundi Local Municipality.
“Following an assessment by the department, it was resolved that a Concrete Box Culvert would be built at a length of 19,3 km. The rehabilitation of this road is expected to cost R36 million and will be completed within 20 months,” it said.
The department said over 30 job opportunities will be created with local businesses benefiting from sub-contracting.
Speaking in a video shared on the department’s Facebook page, Hlomuka said in the past many lives had been lost (by those attempting to cross the river) and once the bridge is completed members of the community would be able to walk freely.
MEC Hlomuka was joined by leaders from Zululand District and Ulundi Local Municipality, Local House of Traditional Leadership, ward councillors and officials.
Also speaking in the video Inkosi Ndebele said without a bridge, the distance for the community to travel to cross to the other side is far.
Ndebele thanked the contractor and called on all stakeholders to work together for the speedy construction of the bridge.
After conducting the sod turning on P487, Hlomuka attended a community engagement in KwaCeza.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure announced that Minister Sihle Zikalala would hand-over four Welisizwe bridges to communities in Makhabeleni in Mvoti, KwaZulu-Natal on March 12, 2024.
“The Welisizwe Bridges are a government intervention programme aimed at giving access to health, education and economic amenities to rural communities that are cut off from these services when there are heavy rains,” said the department’s head of communications, Lennox Mabaso.
Mabaso added that in his State of the Nation address in 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the building of 96 Welisizwe bridges in six provinces this financial year as part of the rural infrastructure investment in the country.
The Mercury