MyPE

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Bridges to nowhere

By

Dear Editor

Three critical bridges in Elliot remain incomplete, leaving entire communities cut off from economic opportunities and essential services. While deadlines have come and gone, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport’s failure to deliver on infrastructure projects has turned everyday travel into a struggle and robbed families of their livelihoods.

For over a year, residents have waited for a new bridge, which was supposed to be completed by end of last month. Today, it remains unfinished with no explanation for the delay.

Meanwhile, a second bridge which was destroyed in the 2022 floods, has seen little to no meaningful work beyond a few piles of rubble dumped in 2023. Instead of restoring access, the government has abandoned the project entirely.

The consequences of the delays on the second bridge are dire. Logging companies have stopped operations, leaving cut timber in the valley because they can’t transport the logs. This has directly affected local workers who depend on the industry for income.

Instead of enabling economic activity, the government’s failure has deepened unemployment and financial distress in the region.

As if that was not enough, the reckless demolition of a third bridge in the area, also damaged during flooding, has left Mhlwazi village residents completely cut off from town, work, and essential services, with no alternative access route.

This failure of governance is more than an inconvenience, it is economic sabotage. Without these bridges, businesses cannot operate, workers cannot reach jobs, and residents are left isolated.

The DA is calling on the Eastern Cape Department of Transport to provide an urgent progress report on these three bridges, including clear timelines for completion. We will also escalate the matter in the provincial legislature to ensure accountability and immediate action.

The people of Elliot cannot wait any longer. The government must act now to restore these vital connections and give Mhlwazi residents a fair chance at economic opportunity. The DA will continue to fight for real service delivery, not empty promises.

Regards

Kabelo Mogatosi MPL
DA Shadow MEC for Transport

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Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.