Land occupiers demand toll from pedestrians using Mhlali River footbridge

Land occupiers have allegedly been terrorising pedestrians trying to cross the Mhlali River on a footbridge near Rain Farm Game Lodge, with at least one person threatened at knife-point.

No progress has yet been made to repair the main vehicle-carrying bridge nearby that was partially washed away more than three months ago during the April floods.

As a result, Driefontein residents on the south side of the river, who are employed by Rain Farm or other businesses on the northern side, are forced to use footbridges to cross.

The alternative would be a 30-minute trip by car (hours on foot) using a convoluted detour, more than tripling the previous journey time.

Rain Farm erected a temporary footbridge at their own cost on May 30 to allow free pedestrian access across the river, said Rain Farm general manager, Chris McDaniel.

“After more than a month, this bridge was taken down on July 4 by occupiers who erected their own bridge the next day,” he said.

This new bridge came with a charge of R5 each way.

When the Courier visited the site last Thursday, six of the occupiers between the ages of 16 and 24 identified themselves as the bridge builders, painting themselves as entrepreneurs and claimed the R5 was simply an “optional donation”.

“We built the bridge to help the people and only asked for a donation because we are unemployed. If they did not pay, we still let them pass,” a member of the group said.

A sign erected at the bridge entrance tells a different story however, with a thinly veiled threat written in Zulu.

It read ‘R5 to cross’, with ‘We ask for sponsorship please, but let us not argue over anything, if you know us or not, we done’ written below.

The situation came to a head on July 15 when a security guard from Rain Farm was beaten up and threatened at knife-point, allegedly for refusing to pay.

The occupiers claim the fight was about a personal matter not related to the bridge, but that was rubbished by McDaniel.

Rain Farm removed the makeshift bridge and erected a more permanent metal structure on July 20, which McDaniel hopes will solve the problem.

The wider issue of vehicle access still remains.

Since the floods, McDaniel says no municipal or government workers have been seen on site, with safety barriers erected by the community.

“We have tried everything to get an answer on the repair timeline, but we believe it is low on the priority list because it is not on a main road,” said McDaniel.

“We even offered, as a community, to create a temporary low-lying bridge to offer relief, but were told we could not do so without permission or an Environmental Impact Assessment. This would have to be approved by the same department that would be fixing the road, so we are left with little recourse.”

A nearby farmer who asked to remain anonymous, echoed the sentiment, saying that his transport costs have skyrocketed.

“Although only around 100 cars used the bridge daily, it was crucial for them. When transporting goods north I now have to take a much longer route,” he said.

Rain Farm guests now have to come from the northern side, where other road sinkholes add an extra element of danger.

“We have put up cones and warning signs, but if you drive these roads at night and are not focused, it could be hugely dangerous,” said McDaniel.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Sanral had not responded at the time of publication.

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