Cllr Nomsa Mathabela – DA Councillor in Nkomazi Local Municipality
Note to Editors: Find attached a video and photos here, here and here.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) initiative of building a foot-bridge over a stream in Schoemansdal village, Nkomazi Municipality, has had a major impact on the lives of the locals as it links them between schools, a cemetery, churches and their homes.
For 25 years, the community and pupils of Ward 27 in Schoemansdal were forced to cross a flooded stream to navigate between the near-by four schools, their homes, a local cemetery, churches and shops because the Nkomazi Local Municipality has failed to build them a much-needed bridge. The stream becomes more dangerous during rainy season as pupils had to take off their school uniforms and swim through it in order to get to school.
The above scenario did not sit well with DA councillors in the area. In 2014 they pulled together resources and built a temporary timber foot-bridge which the community used until early this year up to a point where it deteriorated and became dangerous.
Six months ago, the Nkomazi Local Municipality delivered six storm pipes in the area and promised to come back and build a proper structure. Those storm pipes have been neglected on site from then – while the community was still using the deteriorating foot bridge built by the DA in 2014.
In August this year, the DA approached JRM Pallets, a Hectorspruit based Timber Company, to donate materials to build a new foot-bridge. A couple of weeks ago the company donated a truck-load of materials and the DA councillors used their own money to hire three locals who built the bridge within a week. DA activists also participated in building the new structure.
This project demonstrates that the impact on the community does not need to be dependent on the non-caring ANC-led Nkomazi Local Municipality nor the size of the project itself; but rather on the attitude of the community themselves and the DA councillors who care enough.
The DA is relieved that the community of Schoemansdal and pupils will be safe again using the newly constructed foot-bridge.
The DA is committed to building One South Africa for All, where everyone benefits; not just the connected few.