BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
SIPHOFANENI – Residents of KaGamedze and Ngcamphalala are set to benefit from a safer river crossing through the construction of the Nkhosinathi Suspension Footbridge, following concerns that the existing crossing is no longer safe.
The project is expected to provide residents with a more secure route across the river while improving movement between communities and access to essential services. Indvuna from the Ngcamphalala chiefdom, Makhundu Mamba said the community was grateful for the development, explaining that the previous crossing had become unsafe because of crocodiles in the river.
Mamba said the footbridge would address a challenge that had affected residents who depended on the river crossing as part of their daily movement. The safety concern is particularly important for schoolchildren and other residents who regularly travel between communities.
Siphofaneni Member of Parliament Nomalungelo Simelane said the development would mean a lot to the community because children would now have a safer route when crossing the river to attend school.
She also expressed appreciation to Microprojects for its continued assistance with development initiatives in the area. The project has received support from community leaders, who have also encouraged residents to participate in the construction process.
Siphofaneni Indvuna yeNkhundla Phiwokwakhe Ngcamphalala commended community members for turning up in numbers to support the project. Ngcamphalala said community participation was important in ensuring that the footbridge responds to the needs of the people who will use it.
The construction phase has also brought professional engineering expertise to the project through Engineers in Action. Nine Engineers in Action volunteers have been introduced to communities from KaGamedze and Ngcamphalala Umphakatsi ahead of the construction work.
Mduduzi Mdluli, a community development officer, said professional engineers would assist with the construction of the footbridge. Mdluli said the involvement of the engineers was aimed at helping deliver a durable structure that would serve the community for a long time.
Engineers in Action is also identified as the main sponsor supporting the involvement of the engineering volunteers.
The project therefore responds to a specific community safety concern while bringing together residents, development partners and engineering professionals to provide a safer crossing.
For the communities of KaGamedze and Ngcamphalala, the expected benefit extends beyond the physical structure, as the footbridge is intended to make everyday movement across the river safer and more reliable.
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