Residents of Mountain View in Skierlik outside Pretoria have raised money to build a bridge to get to water.

They recently threatened a protest because tankers bringing water to the area are unable to cross to their side.

Community leader Sphiwe Khoza says the bridge does not prevent tankers only.

He explains the bridge had been a problem to residents of Mountain View since 2015, preventing motorists, taxi drivers, school buses and bakery trucks from Skierlik to cross over to Mountain View.

“The bridge is man-made and we had been pleading with the local councillor to help fix it because it is no longer safe for children as well as crossing at night, after it was damaged during a flood,” says Khoza.

“We desperately need it because there is a small stream between the taxi rank and Mountain View. The bridge crosses one of the main roads to Mountain View from Skierlik Road and the taxi rank. We are tired of waiting on the government’s promises and the councillor who does not care about residents.”

Therefore, the residents raised money to hire a TLB and trucks to get rubble and cement pipes for the bridge.

He says residents are the ones who are working tirelessly to fix the bridge for cars and trucks to cross over.

“Everyone struggles to cross – from school children, taxis to emergency vehicles and police.”

Khoza says they had been appealing to the local councillor to help fix the bridge but, according to him, the pleas have been falling on deaf ears and they therefore decided to raise money and rebuild it themselves.

He says residents have learnt not to rely on the government, and adds that a resident whose wife had been a victim of attempted rape had donated R1 500.

“We have suffered for years with this bridge and if the bridge was fine and taxis were able to cross none of this criminal activity would have happened,” claims Khoza.

“But we are pleased to say the bridge is almost done and we are happy to announce that the taxi association has come on board to help with hiring TLB.”

Itumeleng Manne (32) of Mountain View was seen crossing the bridge after fetching water from the other side of the bridge while carrying a six-month-old baby on her back.

She says she had no choice but to go fetch water on the other side because the water tankers no longer deliver in Mountain View.

All mothers with small children find this particularly challenging.

Khoza adds the issue of the bridge affects everyone and the most painful thing was that most of the people in the area are unemployed.

“Some had to contribute from their government grants,” he says.

He adds any form of donation would help complete the work quickly, and explains bags of cement, rocks, sand, concrete and steel bars were used to build the crossing.

“We want to build a permanent and strong bridge that will last forever. We would have waited forever if we were to wait for the authorities to build the crossing bridge.”

Khoza says they would finish building the bridge, wait to see if it works fine, and then help other areas that desperately need bridges.