Elmon Tshikhudo
Seven months after Cyclone Eloise swept through the Vhembe region in Limpopo, six bridges that got washed away have yet to be repaired.
Residents have been waiting for the bridges in Ward 3 of the Makhado Municipality to be repaired but nothing has happened.
As the rainy season will start in a few months, residents are panicking that they will be stranded again.
Community members, who cannot afford to pay for transport, will also not be able to cross the rivers on foot.
Constance Magoro of Mutsha village said the main bridge at Buvhebvu Dambavhusha was their only link to two schools, a community hall, cemetery and the local clinic.
“We will be forced to travel many kilometres to access these facilities and have to pay more for transport,” she said.
“We are worried that the rains are coming and the lives of our kids will be in danger.”
Ward councillor Saddam Masutha said: “In my ward there are six bridges that need to be repaired. Covid has stalled many of our projects and we are not sure when the bridges will be repaired.”
He could not give any time frame, other than saying officials from the municipality have visited the ward to assess the damage.
