A new footbridge spanning the Vygieskraal River has been welcomed by Kewtown residents who say it will now be easier for children to get to school.
City officials and residents were at last Thursday’s official opening of the bridge.
Ward councillor Rashid Adams said that Kewtown’s Statice Heights community had waited for the bridge, which cost almost R2million, since 2016.
“I fought in sub-council for this footbridge. We had issues with funding, but we managed to allocate more funding. I applaud the community of Statice Heights for keeping me on my toes about this bridge. I look forward to seeing how the community looks after this bridge going forward and no one will use it for criminal activity,” he said.
Statice Heights community leader Amina Rajap said all the schools serving the community were on the other side of the river.
“Most of the time, the children would fall in the river and get soaking wet, and they needed to go back home to change and are late for school. They used to throw bricks in the river to walk on to get over to the other side to get to school. In winter, it always got much worse. Children were soaking wet when they got to school. If they didn’t cross the river, they had to walk very far all the way around. We are in seventh heaven about this bridge. We are so happy, and the children are too,” she said.
Resident Jocelyn McKenzie said safety officers should be stationed on the bridge.
“Children will be children so they need to allocate safety officers here to guide the children. The children would pass my house soaking wet walking to school. I am so happy that the bridge is here.”
Mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas said the bridge would build ties between communities and give pupils safe passage to and from school. He urged the community to prevent anyone from making fires on or near the bridge.
“Wheelchair-bound residents will also get to experience a lot more connectivity to what has been in the past. I apologise that it has taken so long. Praise and thanks upon the community for understanding the processes and staying with the City of Cape Town.
“The design is quite resistant to vandalism and looks nice as well. It is safe and non-weathering, as well as low maintenance.”