Building a bridge for community safety

Tebogo Dikale

 

Name               Tebogo Dikale

Province          North West

District             Bojanala

Municipality     Rustenburg

Village               Phokeng

Date                16 July 2024

 

Building a bridge for community safety

 

There was a community outcry for community safety in this area, where crime and illegal dumping were happening, and there was a river path too. So, in reality, the bridge was a necessity for various reasons. The bridge is locating three sections: – Salema, Punodung, and Sigema section respectively. The bridge took this very long, crime incidents were happening here rape, housebreaking, illegal dumping, and community mugging by criminals on the site.

 

As we know illegal dumping harms the environment, it is not only the community that stays near this location that is affected but the clean water on a river stream. Criminals saw an opportunity to do their illegal actions.

Here’s how this path was affecting the community negatively: –

– Criminal act, mugging

– Rape

– House Breaking

– Kids going to school during rainy times

– Community safety

– Illegal dumping site

Royal Bafokeng Infrastructure and Rustenburg local Municipality agreed on the IDP project to build a bridge for community safety and road users bringing solutions to the location this year. The project started in October 2023 and concluded in February 2024

 

I managed to speak to community members who live near the bridge who are affected.

 

A community member passing by who didn’t want to be named said she was happy to see the bridge finally finished and could utilise the road without fear. She said the area looks so beautiful she wished the project could go to other sections too as service delivery is very poor from the municipality side of Rustenburg. “The joy I’m having is overwhelming”. She said.

 

Phemelo Setshedi is happy with the building of the bridge.” Look, it’s not only for car users but also for kids who use this path going and from to school for their safety particularly when we experience rain. Kids had to go around and that made it difficult for them to reach school on time”. Concluded Phemelo

Rebecca, who stays just one yard away. “I’m happy the bridge is finally being built. It was long overdue, attempt rape cases will be less I think, and women can use the bridge without any fear. We got house robberies so many times and these guys were using this path to hide themselves, crime affected me directly. I grew up here, I’m happy and relieved this year we got the bridge”. said Rebecca.

 

Kabelo Motsepe stays on the same street as Rebecca. “I’m happy to see the bridge finished because for my car “giggling” so many things were happening”. Raising the same concerns uttered by other community members. “We need to do more as people who stay around the area to reduce illegal dumping because I see some of the very same people who complain about the dirtiness are the ones who contribute to the problem by dumping their bins on the river site”. said Kabelo.

In conclusion, the bridge was a necessity, it created a safe environment, for kids going to school. The community can use it without any fear. The area looks more open, clean, and friendly. So far, we haven’t heard any crime committed.