No ‘promised’ bridge – No access to school for Nasaret kids
Kids from the Nasaret area, in Middelburg, are forced to risk their lives daily, crossing a rushing stream on the way to school.
Residents of Nasaret, Extension 24, Rondebosch and Samrose-vallei say they are fed up of empty promises and temporary ‘solutions’, after a bridge was promised by the Steven Tshwete Local Municipality, following a fatal drowning earlier this year.
The calls for action come after a tragic incident on 1 January 2026 when a teenage girl drowned while attempting to cross a swollen stream near the Nasaret area during heavy rainfall.
The Middelburg Observer reported on the drowning after four children were caught in the fast-flowing water on January 1, 2026. A 14-year-old girl was swept away by the strong current and later drowned. Her was later recovered approximately 300 metres downstream by members of the South African Police Service and a police diving unit.
DA PR Councillor Morgan Bruiners, has pleaded with the STLM to take urgent action. This follows as flooding and intense rains has led to high numbers of school children unable to access their schools. He showed to challenge’s these kids face with every heavy rainfall.
The stream has previously been identified dangerous, especially during heavy rains, for years. Locals living in the new RDP housing development, rely on the informal crossing at the stream daily to get to homes, schools and nearby shops. After the drowning, the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality promised to build a safe crossing for residents in the community.
However, following the severe weather and recent flooding’s – these empty promises and temporary solutions don’t cut it any more.
Community members argue that the need for a bridge at the corner of Drosdy and Montagu Street, leading toward Samrose-valley, has been raised repeatedly through the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP), yet construction has not begun.
The municipality attempted to create a temporary solution recently, when a storm water pipe was installed and some debris was cleared from the area. Unfortunately, this has heightened fears as the young kids now have to step on the slippery pipe to cross the rushing water.
These kids are risking their lives every time they cross the stream following rains, and if they aren’t willing to risk their lives, they miss out on valuable education at school.
The desperate community has once again, called on the municipality to come up with a proper and permanent solutions at the fatal flooding site.
