WeeklySA_AdminNEGLECT: Parents rebuild a fragile crossing in a North Pretoria township every year as children wade past raw sewage and crime risks to get to school — a crisis residents say has been ignored since 2011 despite repeated promises by city leaders…
By Keletso Mkhwanazi
This week marked the start of the school year for learners across South Africa. Parents in Soshanguve Block KK, north of Pretoria, had an extra school preparation task on their hands — reinforcing a make-shift bridge.
For hours parents and community members endured the foul smell of a sewage-contaminated river, hauling rocks to rebuild the crossing that learners use to get to school.
According to community leader Tebogo Mlambo, this has been going on since 2011.
“Despite numerous promises from six Executive Mayors, no meaningful action has been taken, and our fear is that worse is yet to come,” he says.
Lerato Nkoana (18), a Matsemela High School matriculant, has crossed the makeshift bridge since Grade 1.
“Both my parents are unemployed, and this is our only route to school,” she says.
With extra classes starting, Nkoana’s concerns about safety are heightened.
“It’s not safe to cross late – people get robbed and raped. A matriculant was found raped and murdered here in 2023.
We need police and crime wardens deployed for learners like us,” she says, adding that a new bridge could help curb crime.
In the meantime, Nkoana wants the city to improve safety measures.“Fix streetlights, high light masts, and cut the weeds and grass. We need to feel safe while we wait for a proper bridge.”
Residents say they often have to carry children as young as 4-years-old over the crossing.
Health concerns
In addition to the fear of falling victim to crime, community members are worried about their exposure to raw sewage flowing in the river.
“We contact raw sewage every now and then so that we can save the lives of the young ones,” says Nkele Sithole, a volunteer who assists learners crossing the make-shift bridge.
“When it rains, the bridge gets damaged and rocks get flushed away. Some learners are compelled to miss school, and others are forced to take off shoes, fold trousers, it’s time-consuming and they end up falling into sewage spillage.”
Foster Mohale, Department of Health spokesperson, warns that prolonged exposure to sewage carries a myriad health risks. These include diarrhoea, parasitic infections and respiratory issues.
“There are potential health risks which are preventable through maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene,” he explains.
Service delivery
Ward 26 councillor Joseph Shumi confirms that various departments have engaged with him to get a resolution to the situation.
“It is a service delivery issue that needs addressing urgently. We’ve been working tirelessly to ensure that a successful project is completed and safety and health precautions are taken,” he says, adding that the infrastructure development committee of the city has promised to allocate funds in the 2026 budget.
The City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashego says the city is aware of the poor state of the bridge, saying the matter has been escalated to relevant departments. The city’s MMC for roads and transport didn’t respond to our media query. – Health-e News
MIRROR Briefs
INTELLIGENCE BOSS REBUKED
National Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo has alleged that, based on a previous threat analysis, nearly all South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in Gauteng were working for a criminal cartel.
Testifying at Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating accusations that a cartel, known as the Big Five, has infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system, law enforcement, politics and private security, Khumalo made staggering admissions and allegations including that police officers were offering protection – for a fee – to crime syndicate members.
EFF leader Julius Malema demanded that Khumalo provide the names of the senior managers and politicians alleged to be in league with these syndicates. Khumalo declined to identify individuals, citing legal constraints.
His refusal drew sharp criticism from Patriotic Alliance MP, Ashley Sauls. When Khumalo failed to provide a specific number of the officers involved, Sauls referred to his testimony as “reckless”.
“It is not correct for you to make a blanket statement like that without the evidence to back it up here,” Sauls said. “To say you are going to investigate after making such a claim is a reckless and irresponsible statement.” – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
GEORGE QUITS DA
The former minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental and Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament, Dion George, has resigned from the party with immediate effect.
George made the announcement saying internal power struggles had left the DA in a position where it was unable to lead in South Africa’s interests.
This followed a widely publicised feud with party leader John Steenhuisen after he was removed from his position as minister.
“The situation has become intolerable. I’m being pushed out and it is no longer feasible for me to remain in the party, “George said.
The former Minister alleged that his removal and public attacks by Steenhuisen and the new Minister, Willie Aucamp, can be traced back to his raising red flags over Steenhuisen’s use of party funds.
“I removed the credit card provided to Steenhuisen by the DA in March 2025 at the end of the last financial year, because of serious financial irregularities,” he said.
“At that time, the expenses Steenhuisen incurred could not be reconciled – he was abusing DA donors’ money by incurring expenses for which the card was not intended.”
“The statement issued by the DA on 12 January is an attempt to whitewash these irregularities and hide the truth from DA voters and donors.” – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SECOND CHANCE FOR
MATRICS
The MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Sipho Hlomuka, has encouraged learners who did not meet the requirements for the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations to take advantage of the department’s Second Chance Programme.
Hlomuka said the programme offered learners a valuable opportunity to rewrite selected subjects and improve their results during the May/June 2026 examination sitting.
“Not achieving the desired outcome in the NSC examinations does not define a learner’s future. The Second Chance Programme is a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that every learner is given an opportunity to succeed,” said Hlomuka.
The MEC announced that registrations for the programme would be open until February 6, 2026.
Eligible learners are encouraged to register at their nearest district office or designated centre where they wold receive guidance on subject selection, registration requirements, and available academic support.
The initiative will provide structured revision, curriculum-focused support, and access to learning materials to help learners address their weaknesses identified during the NSC examinations.
“The Second Chance Programme is exactly that, a second opportunity to rise, refocus and achieve. We urge our learners to seize it with determination and confidence,” Hlomuka said.
KwaZulu-Natal achieved an impressive 90.6% matric pass rate. – Sanews.
END OF DRINKING AND
DRIVING LAW
The Department of Transport will embark on a process to amend Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) to scrap the legal alcohol consumption limit in the country.
Currently, the law makes it a criminal offence to exceed the limit of 0.05g/100ml concentration of alcohol in blood or 0.24mg/1000ml breath for general drivers and stricter limits of 0.02g/100ml blood or 0.10mg/1000ml breath for professional drivers.
“Our driving and drinking policy was formulated almost 30 years ago. In today’s South Africa it is totally unacceptable that there is a law that allows people to drink and then drive.
“The time has come for us to amend the law, so we have a clear-cut, easy to understand and unambiguous policy that says drinking and driving is not allowed. A law that allows drivers to drink a certain amount and get behind the wheel of a car must be scrapped,” Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said.
The Minister made these remarks during a media briefing to release the road safety report for the 2025/2026 festive season, which covered the period of December 1 until January 11, 2026.
“This year, a total of 1 427 fatalities were recorded from 1 172 crashes this year – SAnews
