Neglected villagers suffer lack of infrastructure

NGWABE – With the recent downpours, parts of Sekhukhune district are experiencing the persistent dilemma of having to cross flooding rivers and dongas to reach neighbouring villages for various reasons such as schooling and access to health care.

The persistence of the nightmarish situation has been for many years despite communities’ outcries for help in getting roads and bridges built in the troubled villages.

This week, photos of learners in Ngwabe Village within the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality were circulated on social media platforms as they had to bear the brunt of having to dangerously cross floods to and from school.

The photos showing the persistent predicament many villages in the district are faced with during rainy seasons have raised service delivery concerns among residents.

Seun Mogotji, Bolsheviks Party of South Africa (BPSA) leader in Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) council, defined the situation as a direct result of the R230 million VBS investment made by the local municipality.

Mogotji added that if the money was used wisely for service delivery, there would not be such problems today.

“What is even worse is that the people responsible have not been held accountable. In fact they have been promoted to be mayors and other higher positions within the provincial government.

Mgcini Tsaku, Economic Freedom Fighters Convener in Sekhukhune, said that the party would write to the SDM to account and that also, the EFF would organize a picket in Sekhukhune district.

Kubane Tolo, FTLM Spokesperson, said that they were still investigating the issue and would respond to it.

Asked on what plans the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure had in place to address the predicament of the many villages such as that of Ngwabe Village, Witness Tiva, Departmental spokesperson, enquired from the paper on the specifications of the area affected to be able to outline plans and interventions the department have in place.