WeeklySA_AdminADVERSE WEATHER: As heavy rains expose the Eastern Cape’s vulnerable river crossings, completed bridge projects in Ngcobo promise safer access to essential services — while authorities warn of a hotter, potentially drier summer…
By Siyabonga Kamnqa
Following this week’s devastating heavy rains, which submerged low-lying bridges and disrupted access to communities across parts of the Eastern Cape, one municipality has announced the completion of bridge projects intended to make daily journeys safer.
For rural communities, a bridge is more than a structure across a river. It is a route to education, healthcare, social grants, employment opportunities and family support.
In the Eastern Cape, however, residents drowning while attempting to cross swollen rivers remain a painful reminder of the dangers facing communities without safe crossings. This week brought another reported tragedy. OR Tambo District Municipality mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana told SABC News that a person had drowned in a river at Ngobozana village near Lusikisiki on Tuesday, October 27. Two children were also taken to hospital after the structure in which they were living collapsed during the severe weather.
Against this backdrop, there were ululations in the Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality chambers in Ngcobo when the completion of several bridge projects was announced.
In a province where roads can become impassable during severe weather, the projects have been warmly received by residents whose daily lives depend on reliable access between villages and service centres.
Speaking to Weekly SA Mirror, Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality mayor Siyabulela Zangqa said the bridges demonstrated the administration’s commitment to transformative service delivery and inclusive development.
“By connecting communities to schools, health facilities, economic opportunities and other essential government services, we are restoring dignity and ensuring that no resident is left behind. These infrastructure milestones reflect our resolve to build a better life for all, in line with the developmental mandate of local government,” said Zangqa.
Municipal communications manager Zintle Bobelo said the municipality had placed access and inclusive development at the centre of its service delivery agenda over the past five years.
Through bridge construction and associated road infrastructure, it was working to improve residents’ access to essential services.
According to Bobelo, completed projects include Qitsi, Nonyentu, Lahlangubo, Ngxingweni, Didi-Sithebe, Nolangazana, Nogqala, Sidadeni and Machibini. Several other bridge projects remain under construction.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Cape, the week’s downpours demonstrated how quickly communities can become isolated.
OR Tambo District Municipality deployed disaster management teams to assess damage, identify affected households and determine immediate needs. Access to Mqanduli town was closed on Tuesday, while Buntingville, Ngqeleni, Green Farms near Port St Johns, and communities around Qumbu and Tsolo were also affected, according to municipal reports.
The disruption extended to electricity supplies. Eskom reported widespread outages affecting Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Amathole and Chris Hani districts, as well as Buffalo City.
Damaged poles, broken conductors and other network faults required repairs, while difficult road and weather conditions hampered access and slowed restoration work. Residents were urged to stay clear of fallen or damaged electricity infrastructure.
Weather warning
Beyond the Eastern Cape, severe weather warnings underscored the range of hazards confronting the country.
On Tuesday, the South African Weather Service issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms over eastern KwaZulu-Natal and a Level 2 warning for the west. Forecast hazards included heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and lightning, with possible flooding and road or bridge closures.
On Monday, damaging winds were forecast for western parts of the Free State and the extreme eastern Northern Cape, with possible disruption from falling trees and dust storms. Extremely high fire danger was also forecast across parts of the interior.
Yet the immediate threat of flooding comes alongside official warnings of a potentially hotter and drier summer.
In a statement published on Wednesday, the Government Communication and Information System said SA Weather Service forecasts indicated that El Niño was expected to influence the 2026/27 summer season, increasing the risk of above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall.
These conditions could intensify pressure on already stretched water resources. The statement said the Department of Water and Sanitation was coordinating preparations with the agricultural sector, water boards, catchment management agencies and the National Disaster Management Centre.
Municipalities were urged to maintain infrastructure and respond promptly to leaks, while households and businesses were encouraged to reduce unnecessary consumption and adopt water-saving practices.
The heavy rains do not, by themselves, contradict the seasonal outlook. In an earlier briefing on October 2, the government explained that El Niño changes the likelihood and distribution of rainfall over a season; localised heavy downpours and severe storms can still occur during a generally drier period.
For rural households, these overlapping risks underline the importance of reliable infrastructure and timely warnings.
In Ngcobo, the completed bridges offer the prospect of safer journeys to classrooms, clinics and workplaces. Across flood-affected communities, however, the immediate appeal remains urgent: residents should avoid crossing flooded rivers and low-lying bridges, even when reaching essential services depends on the journey.
MIRROR Briefs
Carrim: More charges
The controversial North West businessman, Suliman Carrim is facing two additional charges for contravening the Immigration Act.
Carrim appeared at the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed Carrim was facing two more counts of employing foreign nationals illegally. The charges will be added to his existing charges that included attempted theft, fraud and money laundering in connection with the attempted smuggling of bank-financed vehicles.
The State alleges Carrim attempted to steal two vehicles belonging to ABSA by using fraudulent documentation to smuggle the vehicles out of South Africa to Malawi.
“It is alleged that arrangements had been made to obtain bank authorisation documents to facilitate the legal cross-border movement of the vehicles. However, the required authorisation was not provided and fraudulent bank documents were allegedly subsequently arranged.”
The matter was postponed to November 9 , 2026 for the continuation of his bail hearing. He remains in custody. Meanwhile, the Madlanga commission of Inquiry said Carrim’s lawyers had failed to comply with one of the bail conditions which stipulated that they report to the commission in person within 48 hours to make the necessary arrangements for his next appearance before it.- Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bail for Khan, Johnson
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Head, Advocate Andrea Johnson and ex-deputy boss of SAPS Crime Intelligence, Feroz Khan R10 000 bail each on charges that included defeating the ends of justice. The duo faced charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and defeating the administration of justice. Johnson is charged as an accessory after the fact in the alleged assault. They were not asked to plead and the case was postponed to February 2, 2027.
Their appearance followed an incident in which Crime Intelligence Officer, Manana Leonora Phetlhe opened a case of harassment and assault against Khan in June 2018.
At the time of the alleged crimes, Johnson was serving as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions at the Pretoria office while Khan held the rank of major-general and was attached to the SAPS Crime Intelligence unit in Erasmuskloof, Pretoria.
The State alleges that Khan submitted the warning statement to the investigating officer on July 5, 2018 before investigators submitted the docket to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for guidance and decision.
“This prompted an investigation into how Khan was able to submit the warning statement prior to the NPA receiving the docket,” NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Boost for KZN youth
A R95.9 million skills development project have been approved to train 1 020 young people in KwaZulu-Natal in aircraft maintenance engineering and wheel balancing, with the aim of improving employment prospects and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Through the National Skills Fund (NSF), the Department of Higher Education and Training has approved funding over 43 months for the project, implemented by Fuze Business Initiative.
Launched at Obiri Airport in Pietermaritzburg this week, the Aircraft Maintenance Engender Project aims to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that can open pathways to employment and contribute to economic growth.
The initiative will strengthen technical skills, improve beneficiaries’ employability, and support the province’s broader economic development.
The programme comprises 20 apprentices undertaking a three-year aircraft maintenance engineering programme in uMgungundlovu and 1 000 learners pursuing a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 3-wheel balancer qualification. Delivering a keynote address, Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, highlighted the department’s investment in skills development through the National Skills Fund.
The project is designed not only to prepare young people for employment, but also to support enterprise development, with its budget making provision for the registration of cooperatives.
“We are not only training you to be employed. We are expecting some of you to employ others,” Dube-Ncube said. – Sanews.
Respect, protect the aged
Social Development Minister, Dina Pule , has called for stronger measures to protect older persons from abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination, saying their rights and dignity must be upheld through sustained action.
The Minister was speaking at the official opening of the 2026 National Active Ageing Programme, comprising the National Golden Games and the Older Persons Choir Festival, at the Dr Petrus Rantlai Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State.
Held under the theme: “Golden Years: See Our Value; Golden Opportunities: Promote Our Rights,” the national programme brings together older persons from all nine provinces to promote healthy ageing, social participation and the well-being of senior citizens. Pule said protecting and promoting the rights of older persons was a responsibility rooted in the Constitution, legislation and the country’s commitment to human dignity, equality and social justice.
“The protection and promotion of the rights of older persons is not an act of charity or kindness. It is a responsibility grounded in our Constitution, our legislation and our commitment to human dignity, equality and social justice,” she said.
“We cannot claim to uphold the dignity of older persons while turning a blind eye to elder abuse, social isolation, inadequate care or exclusion from community life.” – SAnews
