Swartkoppies bridge not insured
Councillor Estelle Visser, along with the community would like to know when the Swartkoppies bridge will be reinstalled.
BRACKENHURST: Ward Councillor Estelle Visser, together with the community, is up in arms with a huge let down, as the bridge has not been, and will not be, fixed before the beginning of 2014.
According to Councillor Visser, the municipality needs to see if there is money to fix the bridge, although it has been listed on her IDP (Integrated Development Plan) for 2012/2013 and 2013/2014.
The bridge, which is a huge asset, was also never insured.
Samual Modiba, Council Spokesperson said that the bridge would only be fixed by December, although the Mayor, Mondi Gungubele, at the August council meeting said they would only start fixing the bridge by December 2013 and it will cost a lot of money.
The bridge has been broken since 2009 and four years later it is still not fixed and residents together with pedestrians, mainly learners from schools in the area, who used to walk that bridge, will have to wait even longer.
Councillor Visser also told the RECORD that there was never a claim put through to the owner of the truck or the company which knocked down the bridge to recover money, for fixing it. The Mayor argued that such a claim would have cost the Metro too much money. Councillor Visser thinks that the Municipal Public Accounts Committee or the Special Investigation Unit should investigate the issue of negligence regarding this matter.
The Mayor of Ekurhuleni also said that no budget or total amount was given on what it would cost to fix the bridge and that he is also not comfortable with the situation. According to Visser the Mayor and officials, persists that the bridge was only damaged in 2011 and Visser argues and has proof that it happened in 2009.
The piece of bridge that was knocked down by the truck was lying on the pavement for two years since it fell, and was only removed in 2011. Councillor Visser indicated that ward 38 was allocated no money to fix the bridge in the 2012/2013 or 2013/2014 budget years, although it was an IDP priority. However, millions of rand’s were awarded to upgrade Michelle Avenue, which in many residents’ point of view is fine.
Residents along with Councillor Estelle Visser would like to know when the bridge will really be fixed and when the right amount of money will be awarded.
