Some villagers say that for many years, they had to cross dangerous streams to access basic and important social amenities such as schools, clinics, government offices, shops and even to get to work.

“Usually, we cross the river on foot, but during the rainy season, when the river is in flood, it becomes very dangerous.

The water levels are so high that it is difficult to get through it safely. It is sometimes impassable even by car.

We don’t have a choice and have to cross the river to get to the other side,” said a concerned villager, Lucky Maluleke of Polaseng.

He says that their passionate plea to the Greater Letaba Municipality (GLM) and the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure for the building of a bridge seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Maluleke says that schoolchildren cross the river to get to school and the elderly have to walk through it to collect their social grants from the offices on the other side.

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“During the rainy season, villagers partially undress to cross.

Those who are in labour have to give birth at home because the village is inaccessible,” he said.

He said that the bridge will provide them with safe access to amenities and the emergency services will be able to respond to a situation.

“It will also help to improve the socio-economic conditions in the local communities and eliminate barriers for villagers to get where they need to get safely,” he added.

Villages affected by the lack of a bridge include Ditshosini, Shawela, Ramaroka, Ga-Rampja, Polaseng, Mothobekhi, Matipane and Maphalle.

The Greater Letaba Municipality spokesperson, Lovers Maenetje referred the Herald to the spokesperson for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Joel Seabi. Seabi has not responded at the time of going to print.