Member of the Executive Council for the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal Mbali Frazer visited the Bailey Bridge Project. She was accompanying the Department of Transport HOD Siboniso Mbhele.
Several officials from various spheres of government attended the inspection visit of the bridge. Notably, the Bailey Bridge Project in Kwazulu Natal is also called the Mzinyathi L3105. The visit to the bridge site was part of the Operation Sukuma Sakhe Programme.
Through this programme, the administration wants to monitor the progress of service delivery to the community of Ward 3 in Ethekwini Municipality.
The MEC for Education took up the monitoring visit on March 6. The officials have shared the images from the visit on their social media. Meanwhile, people appreciated the administration for taking an active role in ensuring that development projects are benefiting the people.
The Bailey Bridge is currently under construction in the Mzinyathi area. The construction project is a part of the Government’s Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme. This programme was initiated by government to ensure urgent construction of bridges to eradicate the low-lying water bridges.
These structures make it difficult for people to cross from one area to another, especially during rainy weather. The low-lying bridges have caused several accidents and even killed people.
The Mzinyathi L3105 project started on 11 November 2022. At the time, it was due to be completed on 10 March 2023. However, the project was delayed due to severe weather conditions and other financially related issues.
The new completion date for the project is 30 March 2025. Meanwhile, the Member of Executive Council spoke on the significance of the project.
“I am happy that even though we have not met our initial completion target date, the project is 90% complete, and it is satisfying to see SANDF collaborating with community members in projects like these,” said MEC Frazer.
Mzinyathi L3105 Bailey Bridge is constructed by SADF and members of the community recruited through the Expanded Public Works Programme.