“It is certainly by the grace of God that no one was killed during this time with an unsafe bridge not being fixed and left for this long in a non-compliant state.”
These were the words of Ward 75 councillor Joan Woodman to a sub-council 12 meeting on Monday 20 October.
Woodman was referring to the Colorado Park bridge which is currently undergoing renovations to have a guard rail installed.
She filed an urgent motion for a cage to be built on the bridge. Woodman told the meeting that while she was grateful that the work has started, because it has been more than two years since the sub-council first asked for assistance with the bridge, the current upgrades were insufficient to address the problem.
Woodman said stone throwing from the bridge has led to robberies and hijackings which have caused on-going trauma to the residents living near the bridge and motorists passing under it.
“The throwing of stones is a common occurrence on our freeway and our motorists are at risk. It is for these reasons, amongst others, that I’m hereby placing before you this motion under exurgency to again request to have a cage built on the bridge, as I believe we need to be proactive to make the bridge safer and protect the safety of our community,” Woodman said.
The councillors unanimously supported the motion and sub-council manager Goodman Rorwana said the motion needed to be tabled with the province, via the City of Cape Town council.
“This will be forwarded by our sub-council management to the various line departments,” he said.
Upgrade applauded
Meanwhile, at the sub-council 12 meeting on 23 October, councillors had a very different sentiment towards the work that was being done at Lentegeur Sportsfield.
Sub-council chair, Solomon Philander, presented three City officials with gifts for their part in the revitalisation of the field.
Philander “paused” his chairman’s address to present Sipho Mabeka, Jade Philander and Lilian Gerdebloem with gifts for “bringing back sports to Lentegeur Sportsfield”.
“Together with all members of sub-council 12, let me acknowledge the progress made by sport and recreation who committed in this very sub-council chamber to turn Lentegeur Sportsfield around. I am proud of the officials who worked hard to make this happen,” Philander said.
He listed some of the activities that have increased engagement at the field, such as spinning, the annual senior games, soccer tournaments, rugby tournaments and golf training.
“These activities bring people together and share the common goal,” he said.
Philander said the field had been “dormant” for many years and credited the officials for “far exceeding our expectations”.
“You brought that facility back to life,” Philander said, adding that upgrades are planned for the field including lights.
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