ActionSA is deeply concerned by the dangerous situation unfolding in Wales Village, Ward 32, where heavy rains have caused the only access route through the area to overflow, effectively cutting residents off from essential services.
Community members report that this level of flooding has never been experienced before, not even during the heavy rains of the year 2000. There is only a low-lying bridge in place, and although an assessment was conducted for the construction of a proper bridge, this is where the process stalled. Residents were also promised a tarred ring road during the 2019 elections, yet nothing has materialised.
As it stands, the community is isolated. In the event of an emergency, residents cannot reach a clinic, hospital, or even a mortuary. This places lives at immediate risk. Any medical emergency, accident, or illness could become fatal simply because there is no safe or reliable access out of the village.
This situation also presents a serious safety hazard for learners who must cross this route to get to and from school. With ongoing heavy rains, children may be unable to attend school at all due to inaccessibility, further compounding the vulnerability of this community.
ActionSA urgently calls on the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to intervene without delay. Temporary measures must be implemented immediately to restore safe access, and a permanent solution, including the construction of a proper bridge and the long-promised tarred road, must be fast-tracked.
Communities cannot be left stranded every time it rains. Infrastructure is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. The people of Wales Village deserve safety, dignity, and reliable access to essential services. ActionSA will continue to advocate for swift and decisive action to ensure that no community is ever again cut off from the rest of South Africa.
ActionSA Calls for Urgent Intervention as Ward 32 Residents Are Cut Off by Flooded Access Route
ActionSA is deeply concerned by the dangerous situation unfolding in Wales Village, Ward 32, where heavy rains have caused the only access route through the area to overflow, effectively cutting residents off from essential services.
Community members report that this level of flooding has never been experienced before, not even during the heavy rains of the year 2000. There is only a low-lying bridge in place, and although an assessment was conducted for the construction of a proper bridge, this is where the process stalled. Residents were also promised a tarred ring road during the 2019 elections, yet nothing has materialised.
As it stands, the community is isolated. In the event of an emergency, residents cannot reach a clinic, hospital, or even a mortuary. This places lives at immediate risk. Any medical emergency, accident, or illness could become fatal simply because there is no safe or reliable access out of the village.
This situation also presents a serious safety hazard for learners who must cross this route to get to and from school. With ongoing heavy rains, children may be unable to attend school at all due to inaccessibility, further compounding the vulnerability of this community.
ActionSA urgently calls on the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to intervene without delay. Temporary measures must be implemented immediately to restore safe access, and a permanent solution, including the construction of a proper bridge and the long-promised tarred road, must be fast-tracked.
Communities cannot be left stranded every time it rains. Infrastructure is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. The people of Wales Village deserve safety, dignity, and reliable access to essential services. ActionSA will continue to advocate for swift and decisive action to ensure that no community is ever again cut off from the rest of South Africa.