SHARPEVILLE.- Although the recent rains should be celebrated for the fertility they bring to the soil, for the residents of Sharpeville, particularly learners, the rains have brought misery.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has said that it is disheartened by the continued negligence by Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) and its failure to prioritise the fixing of bridges that connect Tshepiso Phase 1 and Phase 3, Phelindaba in Sharpeville.

The party said that the “negligence” affects school learners attending Emmanuel and Tsoaranang Primary schools. The second bridge connects Tshepiso Phase 3 to Phase 4 and affects learners attending Tshepiso Primary and Mahareng Secondary schools in Sharpeville.

“When it rains, the bridges become flooded and make it impossible for learners to cross to the other side. This has resulted in children having to use long and unsafe routes to get to school or miss attending school entirely. Community members also rely on these bridges as a convenient shortcut to get to their homes safely from work and town. Therefore, immediate intervention is needed to avoid any further life-threatening accidents,” said DA’s Tumelo Ramongalo, Emfuleni West Political Head.

Ramongalo added that DA chairperson, Maselloane Ramohlokoane and DA PR councillor, Lydia Skhosana of Ward 11 have conducted oversight visits in the respective areas and witnessed the dilapidation of the bridges and the unsafe structures that could lead to devastating consequences.

They spoke to concerned parents and residents who shared disturbing stories, such as that of a group of learners who were forced to turn back home because the water was too high for them to cross.

“Some learners have slipped and fallen into the water while trying to cross the bridge, risking injury or worse. The restoration would lead to addressing serious issues of safety, education, and human dignity. The municipality has a legal and moral obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of learners and to protect them against issues of unsafe infrastructure.”

Ramongalo further said the ELM suffers from a history of repeated administrative failures with dysfunctional and ineffective interventions, which have led to more distress when service delivery is concerned.

“Recently, R640m was sent back to the Treasury, despite the municipality’s perpetual and deepening woes when service delivery is concerned. This is a clear indication that there is no political will from the ANC-led coalition to address issues of infrastructure development. Even more concerning is that the institution is run by individuals who are clueless about municipal financial management.”

The DA demands the immediate repair of the two bridges in Ward 11.