Central SA
Life-threatening flooded Bloemfontein bridge raises concern─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 11:22 Fri, 05 Jan 2024
“If anything tragic was to happen concerning this bridge, Mangaung leadership must be held accountable.”
Concerns have been raised about the flooded bridge on Fort Road near Centlec, opposite the Majakathata long-distance taxi rank in Bloemfontein.
An as-yet-unidentified body was found floating in the flooded subway on Sunday (31/12). The road under the bridge is closed whenever heavy downpours lead to flooding.
“It’s not the first time this bridge flooded, and the leadership has failed to fix the problem with this bridge,” said Rise Mzansi Free State coordinator Mokgadi Kganakga. “If anything tragic happened concerning this bridge, the leadership must be held accountable.
‘No surprise that this bridge is left unattended’
“But it’s no surprise that this bridge is left unattended. It’s the same with many sewage or manhole lids across many townships in the metro that are sometimes left open without any precautions.”
They informed motorists and road users of the temporary closure of the subway in Fort Road due to recent heavy downpours, said Manganung Metro spokesperson Qondile Khedama.
He urged motorists to use alternative routes to reach the CBD apologised for the inconvenience, and promised to keep residents informed of any developments. Kganakga called on the metro’s leadership to act quickly to avoid further tragedy.
