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Opening of Raymond Mhlaba Bridge
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture

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 MEDIA RELEASE
 04 MARCH 1999
 IMMEDIATE
 OPENING OF THE RAYMOND MHLABA BRIDGE

Kophohlong community near Qumbu re-named their recently built Tsitsa bridge after the former Premier of the province, Mr. Raymond Mhlaba.

This was announced at the official opening of the bridge held at the Tsitsa Falls on Tuesday. Mr. Khetha who is the community leader in the 
area was at pains when he explained the suffering of the community since 1956 due to floods that persistently affected the area whenever 
there is rain.

The community has since 1956, tried to get assistance for a bridge to be erected in the area, and all the previous governments including 
the Transkei regime did not heed to their request until they contacted the former Premier of the Province, Mr. Raymond Mhlaba, who referred 
them to the then MEC for Housing and Local Government, Mr. Max Mamase.

With the assistance of Mr. Mamase they managed to secure an amount of 1 million for the project and today it is complete. About seven 
people have lost their lives from the river where the bridge has been built.

Mr. Mamase who was the guest speaker at the opening, lashed out at the previous apartheid regime and its homeland surrogates for not taking 
human life seriously and being negligent on very crucial human rights issue, namely the right to life and dignity.

He urged the community to preserve the bridge as a monument for those who have lost their lives and pleaded the community to use it as a 
getaway to development because when it was not there it was difficult for people to do their normal daily businesses.



Present at the function were the representatives of the engineers, consultants, Kei District Council, TRC members and members of the 
public.

Ends

This Information is Attributable to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs

For Further Information Please Contact Thembelani Stamper at (040) 6391180 or 083 659 8435

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