By Nangamso Mabindla
8 November 2004

WHEN a stream proved a hazard to his community, an innovative, unemployed builder from Scenery Park took matters into his own hands and built a bridge over the troubled waters.

Today, Thembisile Makele's impressive construction links the township to neighbouring Highway Garden, Wilsonia - and Phase 3 residents, who previously had to cross the stream on their way to work and school, are safer.

For some time, people in the area had been asking the local authorities for help, but when a young girl slipped and fell into the water, the matter reached serious proportions. That's when Thembisile rolled up his sleeves and came to the rescue.

"I decided to build a bridge here because the stream posed a danger to our people," he says, simply. And when his initial handiwork collapsed, he didn't throw in the towel: his second effort was constructed of stronger material, and has so far stood the test of time.

Now the sturdy bridge is used daily by residents who work in the Wilsonia Industrial Area.

"Children who go to school just up the road also use the bridge. It's been very useful," says Thembisile.

He stresses, however, that the bridge is a temporary measure only and he has urged the municipality to provide better building materials for a permanent bridge to serve the community for years to come.

All residents need, he says, is proper training and equipment. Then they could do the construction themselves.

"If the municipality would do that, residents will be able to maintain and take care of something they own," he says.

Councillor for ward 31, Vuyani Holiday, says he is happy that residents took the initiative to build their own bridge. "It shows that they're not waiting for the municipality to do things for them; but we will discuss the possibility of building a proper bridge for our residents," he says.