Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Focusing on social upliftment, Newcastle Municipality is looking at ways in improving the community’s quality of life. This follows the acting Municipal Manager Vish Govender, accompanied by the Municipal Technical Unit led by the Manager for Engineering, Dr Thava Kelly, who recently visited ward 30 in eManzana.
The purpose of their visit was to inspect and assess a ravine, which has been a thorn in the community’s side, especially on rainy days. Gushing waters running through the ravine have, on occasion, prevented school children from attending school and has been the cause of several minors drowning.
Head of Communications at the Municipality, Mlungisi Khumalo, explains, “Members of the community approached the municipality via the municipal social media page two weeks ago, and also approached members of the fourth estate.”
After a series of meetings and engagements with the community, Govender intervened by leading a delegation to the area on 29 March 2021. The municipality has now committed itself to constructing a bridge, and plans are afoot to commence as soon as possible.
The municipality’s technical unit, leading this operation, is also tasked with producing optimal service delivery and guarantees this problem will be eradicated. The teams will also ensure the bridge is user-friendly for both disabled community members and the elderly.
Khumalo adds, “As a precautionary measure, the teams will make sure that they first limit the amount of water that goes straight to the ravine, ensuring that the steel bridge the municipality will be constructing over the ravine is a long-lasting solution to the community of eManzana.”
The first phase of the project began on Wednesday morning, 30 March 2021, and will focus on widening the detention pond into a small dam, allowing for various streams to collect instead of going straight to the ravine.
The project has been warmly received by community members, with the traditional leader, inkosi Kubheka extending his blessing on the initiative.
As the municipality looks at building a bridge to assist residents in the area, what are your thoughts?
Share your views in the comment section below.
RELATED NEWS
