Far-flung villages continue to suffer disservice

MABITSI – Communities in far-flung villages in Sekhukhune district continue to bear the brunt of lack of proper infrastructure amid the recent heavy downpours.

The villagers, including primary school pupils are forced to dangerously cross floods to access education, health and other necessary services.

Photos of learners in Ngwabe Village within the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) circulated on social media last week as they crossed floods.

Ask for the local municipality’s response to the predicament of the affected villagers at the time, Kubane Tolo, FTML Spokesperson, said they were still investigating the issue and would respond.

This week, learners in Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM)’s Mabitsi Village had to be assisted by police and other community members to cross a flooding Mogoatsane River from Ngwaritsi Village.

The plight of the affected villagers raised eyebrows with regard to delivery of services by the local government authorities.

In an interview on one of the SABC radio stations on Wednesday morning, Seun Mogotji, Bolsheviks Party of South Africa (BPSA) councilor in EPMLM, indicated that the villagers in Mabistsi were promised a proper road and bridge back in 2018 but nothing has been done.

Mogotji lambasted that police had to endure the local government’s disservice and assist learners to cross flooding rivers.

“We need to come together as a collective and address matters of this nature. We know there is money but someone just decides not to commit,” added Mogotji.

On the same radio station, Percy Moagi, EPMLM Communications Manager, was heard saying: “There is a bridge there but it is a low-lying bridge.”

Moagi concluded that the matter would be given attention as plans were already in place.