uMsunduzi bridge claims lives

Pietermaritzburg Deputy Mayor, Mxolisi Mkhize urged residents of Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas to avoid crossing bridges, and unsafe areas during floods and heavy rains.
Mkhize issued a warning on the uMsunduzi’s Municipality Facebook page, after he visited areas affected by the recent floods.
Among the heavily affected areas is the Hanley Dam in Ward four, where a car with three family members was swept away as they tried to cross a low-lying concrete bridge.
According to the mayor, this is not an isolated incident.
“There have been a lot of incidents where people were trying to cross, we warn people not to use that place to cross, the community can use the KwaNxamalala or KwaShange routes when going into the residential areas across found across this bridge,” Mkhize said.
Mkhize has promised the community that there the community will receive constant updates concerning the areas that were impacted by the floods.
Ward 4 resident, Noluthando Mkhize urged people not to cross the bridge, as it was dangerous.
“It is difficult for people to see water when it is too much because the water that comes here is too much. I urge people to use the main road until the bridge is built,” Mkhize explained.
Another resident, Nomonde Thahla spoke to Iziko and said that, she lost her family members in a tragic incident unfolded on the same bridge.
The car in which her brother, Mfundo Thahla, was traveling in was swept away as he tried to cross the bridge.
“His car was swept away by the overflowing water, Mfundo was at the time, travelling with his fiancée and their six-month-old baby,” Thahla said.
“The only thing that will help in the area, is to build a bridge because many people will lose their lives,” Thahla added.
According to residents less than two months ago, water overflowing from bridge had tragically swept away a woman’s car as she tried to drive cross it.
A total of 435 lives have lost during these floods, with Minister of Police, Bheki Cele confirming that quite a number of families were still searching for their missing family members.
Khwezi Cele
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