The Greater Giyani Municipality officially opened a R12,8 million bridge last week that will assist pupils at the Kheto Nxumalo high school, who were cut off from school during heavy rains.

The MEC for Roads and Transport in Limpopo, Ms Pinkie Kekana, gave recognition to the efforts of the Greater Giyani Municipality last Friday for completing a bridge that will make it possible for learners of Khetho Nxumalo high school to go to school even during times of rain.

“Let us jealously guard the facilities the government gives us and make sure they are not destroyed,” she said. She warned motorists not to abuse the facility by speeding and putting the lives of scholars at risk.

“What happened in Protea Glen is not something that we want to hear in South Africa again,” she said, referring to the incident in which four pupils lost their lives when hip hop artist Jub Jub Maarohanye and a friend allegedly raced each other and he lost control of his vehicle.

Kekana also praised the contractors and consultants for a job well done. “You did not do shoddy work and embarrass the Zuma government. We are proud of people like you,” she said.

The mayor of Greater Giyani municipality, Cllr Doris Mathebula, said she had sleepless nights over the plight of pupils who attend Kheto Nxumalo high school from the Giyani town side who could not go to school during heavy rains.

The acting chief of the area, Mr Michael Mabunda, said he was happy that the government had resolved an age-old problem. “Although it took many years for the problem to be solved, we are happy that the government has finally solved the plight of the pupils,” he said.

For more than 20 years, the people of Siyandhani village could not go to Giyani town during heavy rains. The majority of pupils at the school come from Giyani town and adjacent villages and they also could not go to school.