By Akani Nkuna
President Cyril Ramaphosa has handed over four new bridges in KwaMhlanga’s Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.
The bridges were constructed under the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme, a collaboration between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and the South African National Defence Force.
Speaking to residents at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga, Ramaphosa highlighted the impact of poor transport infrastructure, which has long hindered access to workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, and urban centers for rural communities.
“In some cases, what would normally be a quick journey takes double the time because there is no bridge,” said Ramaphosa.
“As government, we have heard your call for this issue to be addressed. This has been particularly difficult in areas near or separated by water sources like rivers or streams. When the rains come or there are heavy floods, crossing becomes difficult and dangerous … As the seventh administration we are committed to speeding up the pace of service delivery to ensure more South Africans have access to the amenities they need to lead lives of dignity. I want to make a call to our communities. Look after these assets. They are your assets. They are for the benefit of your community and for the benefit of future generations.”
The Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme is aimed at ensuring that rural communities are enabled to go on with their daily lives and easily and safely reach schools, workplaces and other amenities. PHOTO: X/GCIS
The bridges, part of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme, aim to enhance mobility, improve connectivity, and create job opportunities for local residents.
The programme is also aimed at addressing the infrastructure backlog in rural areas, especially bridges damaged by floods.
The programme has been in existence since 2020 and is a designated Strategic Integrated Project under the national infrastructure build.
“We have been working with speed to deploy the bridges where they are needed most, in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North-West, the Eastern Cape and the Free State,” said Ramaphosa.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has set itself an ambitious target of constructing 288 bridges by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year.
Seventeen of these bridges are planned for Mpumalanga.
An amount of R3,8 billion has been allocated for this purpose over the 2023/2024 and 2025/2026 financial years.
“These bridges will improve mobility for all the people of the province. Our learners will be able to make it safely to and from school. It will be easier for our elders to reach hospitals and clinics, and to get to pension pay points,” said Ramaphosa.
“These bridges will make commuting safer, faster and easier for women and children, because they don’t have to make their way through areas that are unsafe, especially at night.”
Ramaphosa said beyond improving mobility and connectivity in rural areas, the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme is creating decent work and business opportunities for our citizens.
“Earlier we heard from local entrepreneurs on how the construction of a Welisizwe Bridge brought them business. A key component of this programme is that components and construction materials must be sourced locally,” said Ramaphosa.
“We also heard from the beneficiaries of the Expanded Public Works Programme or EPWP. Each bridge site deploys Army engineers, artisans and EPWP workers who provide services like welding, groundwork, earth moving and soil retention.”
Ramaphosa further said the EPWP also supports skills development.
Graduates are appointed to work in bridge assessment, project management, maintenance, as assistant engineers and as candidate construction project managers, he said.
“I am told that the construction of the bridges we launched today created work opportunities for 105 EPWP beneficiaries,” said Ramaphosa.
“This is 105 unemployed South Africans given a chance to earn a living. With this income they were able to support themselves and their families.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa cuts the ribbon to mark the official handover of the Vezubuhle Bridge to the local community. PHOTO: X
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