Elmon Tshikhudo
For many years, the rural community of Lambani outside Thohoyandou has pleaded for a proper bridge.
But every year when the rains come, they are cut off from the rest of the community because of the swollen rivers.
This has allegedly led to the unnecessary deaths of people who have been taken ill, and are unable to leave the village.
The community was overjoyed when the construction of a bridge finally began in 2019, but the project has since ground to a halt.
The bridge, with a budget of over R26 million, was supposed to have been completed in eleven months but two years later there are no signs of completion, despite promises made by the municipality that the contractor was ready to finish.
The community believes the Thulamela Municipality has employed an incompetent contractor.
A source said that over the two-year period, workers had to demolish the structures as the work was defective, on two separate occasions.
Over this period, unpaid workers have been forced to protest in order to receive their wages.
A source also said that work completely stopped three weeks ago, and no reason for this has been offered to the community by the contractor.
Traditional leader Chief Patrick Lambani said he was disappointed by what is happening at his village.
“We were happy to see a bridge being built and expectations were high that more development would be coming our way,” he said.
“We are shocked that there is no progress on the project. The bad road makes the situation even worse and patients can die without help as there is no way out of the village.”
Thulamela Municipality spokesperson Ndwamato Tshiila is adamant that the contractor was on site despite evidence to the contrary.
He said the project would be completed by the end of August 2021.
“We assure the community that the project has not been abandoned and will be completed as planned and within the budgeted amount,” he said.
