What was
meant to be a momentous occasion for the community of Kaalfontein, on Friday, 4
October 2019, was spoiled by disruptions by some community members clad in
SANCO and ANC regalia.
This mob
sought to turn the event into a political tit-for-tat. They heckled the
Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Herman Mashaba, calling
for him to go.
Mayor
Mashaba was joined by the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport,
Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba; Ward 92 Councillor, Ms. Violet Chauke; and members of
the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
The
Kaalfontein pedestrian bridge serves as a link between Extensions 2 and 5
within Ward 92 in Kaalfontein. There was a need to construct this bridge over a
river to provide a safe passageway, especially for young children and the
elderly walking between the two extensions.
Construction
of this pedestrian bridge, which is 102 m long and 3.5 m wide, commenced on the 9th of May 2018,
and was completed on 30 September 2019 – at a cost of R21 million.
“Before
construction of the pedestrian bridge school kids were struggling to get to
school and residence struggled to get to neighbouring communities, clinics and
other amenities due to the existing water stream not being safe for crossing
especially during rainy season. All this will be a thing of the past,” said the
JRA’s Acting Managing Director, Mr. Siya Nodu.
The key
highlights of this project are the number of jobs created, and skills
transferred. A total of 34 local EPWP participants and a minimum of 4
Sub-Contractors were engaged. Other additional local Sub-Contractors from the
community were also engaged for Security Services Accredited training.
While thanking the JRA for its delivery of various projects, Mayor Mashaba was also grateful for the continued support of the DA caucus as well as members of the coalition government; the IFP, ACDP, COPE, UDM and Freedom Front Plus. He also thanked the EFF caucus, which votes with the coalition government on an issue-by-issue basis.https://www.joburg.org.za/media_/Pages/Media/Mayoral%20Newsletter/Mashaba%20On%20Point%20October%202019/Kaalfontein-pedestrian-bridge-successfully-opened-despite-SANCO-saboteurs.aspx
