BRIDGING DISTANCES, CONNECTING LIVES: NORTH WEST COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE TWO NEWLY BUILT BRIDGES

Article by Fanisa Makhubela, Pictures by Fanisa Makhubela and Boitumelo Ramogogodi

30 April 2025

Two rural communities in the North West Province marked a milestone today as the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, alongside the MEC of Public Works and Roads in the North West province, Mme Sempe Elizabeth Mokua, in collaboration with the SANDF, officially handed over completed Welisizwe Bridges in Kraaipan and Masutlhe 1. The events, held in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, were a celebration of access, unity, and development.

Deputy Minister Zikalala described the occasion as a symbol of responsive and people-centered governance. “These bridges are not just about infrastructure; they are about dignity and development,” Zikalala said. “Let us close the gap between government and the people. The time for isolated planning is over. We are building together.”

At the heart of this integrated approach is the District Development Model (DDM) a government strategy aimed at improving coordination and service delivery by aligning planning and implementation across national, provincial, and local government. Zikalala highlighted the DDM as critical in ensuring that rural infrastructure like the Welisizwe Bridges directly responds to the needs of the people.

The Welisizwe bridges, once a vision, now provide safe, all-season access for thousands of residents who had long struggled to cross flood-prone areas. Beyond physical access, the project brought economic relief. 40 local workers were employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), and 5 skilled artisans were brought in during construction, ensuring local participation and skills development. Mme Mokua echoed the Deputy Minister’s message, emphasising that the province is witnessing not just infrastructure delivery, but social and economic transformation. “These bridges are the result of collaborative governance and community input. They reconnect us not only physically, but socially and economically,” she said.

Celebrations at both sites were filled with cultural performances, community pride, and a renewed spirit of partnership between the people and their government. As the sun set over Masutlhe 1, it wasn’t just a bridge that spanned the divide, it was trust being rebuilt, one structure at a time.