Villagers raise R135k to build bridge across deadly river

[schumi]

Villagers in Vondo, Limpopo, have been asking the Thulamela Municipality to build a footbridge across the Mutshindudi River for over 20 years.

The community has now started to build a footbridge themselves, with households each contributing R150. The money will be used to fix the main access gravel road as well. They have raised R135,000 so far, but estimate they need another R70,000.

Located west of Thohoyandou, the village is about five kilometres from the main road, the R523 that connects Thohoyandou to the N1. There is a gravel road between Vondo and the R523 that a handful of taxis ply in the mornings only. In the afternoons, commuters have to walk on the road through this bushy area.

There is an alternative and shorter path from the village to the R523, but that involves crossing the Mutshindudi River, which swells during the February and March rains.

Both routes have their dangers. Sections of the gravel road are treacherous and slippery when it rains, and on the shortcut path there is no safe way to cross the river.

So the villagers decided to fix both as best they could. The community pooled resources and poured concrete at three of the worst sections of the gravel road.

More at: https://www.groundup.org.za/article...hout-government-help-survives-the-next-flood/

 

[Gyre]

Reminder

Imagine if we can get black communities to do the same, build things and not burn things.

Hats off to the men and women of Orania trying to do something and not begging for things to be handed for free to them.

 

[TheChamp]

They should be arrested at once because they did not follow safety precautions and their construction is not compliant, putting people's life at risk.

 

[TheChamp]

Reminder

You'll never win with them right wingers.

 

[R13...]

They should be arrested at once because they did not follow safety precautions and their construction is not compliant putting people's life at risk.

They should be arrested for not thinking to vote out the uncaring party currently in charge of their area.

 

[Herr der Verboten]

What happens after it has been build?

 

[Herr der Verboten]

You'll never win with them right wingers.

Lekker.

 

[ToxicBunny]

This is absolutely atrocious (as expected) from the municipality.

Whilst the bridge that this village constructs may not even vaguely be close to what is required by building standards and safety standards and all that, it will be safer than whatever option they have at the moment, and done for 1% of what the municipality would have been billed for something similar very likely.

 

[Neptuner]

The bridge should work, vibranium is the strongest known material.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Eish. A noble undertaking and I applaud their proactiveness. But building a bridge for R205k, and building it properly with safety of its pedestrians in mind? Who is responsible if it collapses with several people washed away?

 

[J&B]

Any civil engineers here who want to give the builders free tips?

 

[Sinbad]

135k?
That won't cover the cost of the politicians thinking about whether they need a feasibility study.

 

[ForceFate]

Any civil engineers here who want to give the builders free tips?

It's a short span. Probably overengineered any way.

 

[TheChamp]

Eish. A noble undertaking and I applaud their proactiveness. But building a bridge for R205k, and building it properly with safety of its pedestrians in mind? Who is responsible if it collapses with several people washed away?

The government.

 

[Pudding McTwinkle]

Reminder

LOL! Triggered.

 

[wbot]

What happens after it has been build?

It will collapse

 

[ForceFate]

LOL! Triggered.

Are you?

 

[ForceFate]

It will collapse

Not the first structure to be built by communities. You just happened to find out about this one.

 

[sefeddt]

Let me guess on completion the ANC officials will converge and try pass this off as a joint venture publicity stunt.

 

[ForceFate]

They could have started a gofundme. I would have contributed provided they could declare that govenment didn't supply anything.

Often villages fund their own projects.