Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Estelle Ellis
Published on 2024-02-22 21:32:07
On Wednesday, 21 February, residents of the Kasa locality near Elliotdale in the Eastern Cape took to the streets to demand a tar road in the area. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the area’s existing gravel road, which was originally constructed in 1991 and has since deteriorated rapidly. The residents highlighted the significant safety concerns associated with the current road infrastructure, emphasizing that horrific accidents were a frequent occurrence.
The Mbhashe Local Municipality, in its integrated development plan, acknowledged the dangerous conditions of the roads in the area, indicating that the deteriorating roads were not conducive to safe travel. Daily Maverick reported that residents of Kasa felt neglected by the government and expressed their frustration over the inability of children to attend school due to the poor road conditions. Funani Mangaza, a 67-year-old resident, expressed concern over the state of the bridge and the potential hazards associated with its deterioration. “The road is in a bad condition, even the bridge has collapsed. Anything can now happen on that bridge; it’s not safe at all,” Mangaza stated. Furthermore, she criticized the lack of government support for rural residents and bemoaned the challenges faced by elderly individuals who were required to travel long distances to access health facilities.
In addition to Mangaza, Nosiseko Phuka, another resident, appealed to the local mayor to address the issue. She expressed the frustration of the community, which had been voicing concerns about the deteriorating road conditions since the road’s last construction in 1991. “We want a tar road, nothing else,” Phuka emphasized. Nocingile Dywabasini, a 65-year-old resident, echoed similar sentiments, stating that children were unable to attend school during rainy days due to the poor road conditions.
Conversations between the residents and the local mayor, Mr. Samelo Janda, yielded minimal results, as the residents indicated a sense of urgency in their road demand and expressed their willingness to continue protesting until their concerns were addressed. Mncedi Bungu, one of the protest leaders, highlighted the road’s importance in connecting more than 15 villages, emphasizing that the community would persist in protesting until their demands were met.
Following the protests, Premier Oscar Mabuyane acknowledged the critical importance of rural roads during his State of the Province Address (Sopa). He recognized the significance of roads in facilitating access to essential services, such as schools and health facilities. Mabuyane emphasized the government’s commitment to improving road infrastructure in rural areas and outlined plans to purchase additional machinery to increase the capacity for maintaining gravel roads.
Furthermore, the premier addressed concerns over rural bridges that posed a risk to human life due to frequent flooding. He announced plans to construct 36 new bridges under the Welisizwe Bridges Programme, with the first 19 rural Bailey bridges already under construction. Moreover, efforts are underway to address the urgent need for improved road infrastructure in the Eastern Cape, with a focus on the safety and well-being of rural communities.
The citizens’ right to safe and accessible road infrastructure has been recognized by the South African Human Rights Commission, which is conducting an inquiry into the state of the province’s roads. The inquiry serves as an indication of the commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens, especially those residing in remote and rural areas where road infrastructure is crucial for accessing essential services.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
