The bridge man
AN "engineer" from Langa township near Cape Town is the darling of the community after he built a pay-bridge over a canal - allowing an easy crossing to many areas previously difficult to access.
The 8m wooden bridge provides Langa residents with an easy route - for 50 cents - to the Bonteheuwel clinic, Vanguard Mall in Athlone and N2 - and is manned daily from 8am to 6pm by owner-creator Sebenzile Mazembele.
Hundreds of people cross the bridge each day, but some do not have to pay because of the high level of unemployment, he says.
Mazembele says he makes about R50 a day during the week and about R60 at weekends.
Sowetan visited the bridge yesterday morning and witnessed scores of people, some from Khayelitsha, crossing the bridge to visit their relatives in the Langa community.
Some were happy to pay while others pleaded poverty.
"When I started building it people thought I was mad. I was working alone, knee-deep in dirty water in the canal. I knew one day they would appreciate this," Mazembela says.
"I noted that people were struggling to access many areas since the other bridge built by the government is far from the community.
"I want to help people. I want us to help each other. I also want to put bread on the table.
"Some people can't pay me. I just pray for them to get jobs so that they are able to pay one day.
"All the old people from Langa find it easy to cross the bridge.
"It's very strong and I hope it will last for the next two years. If more people were to pay I would be able to repair it, so that it lasts longer than two years.
Mazembele, who has lived in Langa for nearly 30 years, says he never studied engineering.
"It's from the top of my head. I was tired of doing piece jobs," he explains.
"There are people who want to rob me or my customers, but I always tell them to stop it. They should start looking for jobs or work for themselves."
Mazembele says while he was building the bridge law enforcement agents from Cape Town tried to confiscate his building material.
"I told them to consult the community leadership first."
Many in the community and beyond, who now use the bridge, have heaped praise on him for his engineering feat.
"Our brother is helping us a lot, particularly now that it's winter and raining. He is a bright guy," says Mtila Maphelo, getting ready to cross over to the Vanguard Mall.
"We can now easily cross to the clinic."
Another bridge user, Nombesane Ngaka, is also full of praise.
"We can now easily cross to the clinic. It's even easier to go to the bus stop on the N2.
"The bridge built by the government is too far from where we live. What is more, people used to be robbed there.
"This man has helped us a lot by building the bridge!"
B4LES
What a true african!The guy is a simple symbol of typical african who embodies true patriotism,consideration for other people, and unconditional symphathy. Unfortunately people like him are facing extinction since mortal being is ubusing them.Nonetheless, good work fellow african, for you are martyer in your own field!Report Abuse
Ntobie
This is a good example off the type of people we need to make SA a better place. Not people who go out an vandalize property just because they don't have what they want. Mazembele keep it up Hard work pays at the endReport Abuse
tiblon11
i welcome the initiative.it shows that there are people in our communities that understand that the government cannot do everything but since it is of national unity,we are also expected to initiate .phambiliReport Abuse
Ghandi
Good work fellow, our politician can learn a thing or two from this initiative you've taken.Report Abuse
BikoLives
As much as we appriciate the spirit of Vukuzenzele but nothing can be further from the truth. Our people have been building makeshift bridged since the begining of time and there is nothing new here. Erecting unsafe and unapproved structures that is going to endager the lives of people should be stopped dead in its tracks. We do not want to be sending wrong massages to the communities and say this is ok otherwise we will have structures like these mushrooming all over the country as a way of making quick bucks. People should go to the relevent authorities and demand what is due to them or vote them out if they do not deliver!Report Abuse
PheliMarabi
@ Biko LivesI agree that some non-perfoming people need to be voted out but the reality is that they are not.
I think its a positive direction of building it yourself and discover that a bridge does not necessarily cost R20 million.
Also agree that unapproved structures can lead to loss of lives.
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hlakolr
I hope & wish our Goverment can honour the man and given him an incentive or something because 50c is not enough for the deed he did , especially if they themselves cud not come up with the solution to the public . It was never about money on his side hence the once that are unable to pay are allowed to use the bridge !!!!May the mercy of the Lord be upon himReport Abuse
Windy
Good work Mazembele. If you need donation to improve you bridge I'm willing to donated.Report Abuse
Mavhala
Unsafe or not what Mazembele has done shows initiative, it is positive cotrubution to the upliftment of our nation and it should be acknowledged, it does not mean that when services deleivery is on forthcoming then we should fold our hands and do nothing but complain and vandalise the little that we have(Sakhikhile). This is service deleivery in a true african way!!Report Abuse
