TWO years ago government officials promised residents in Maphumulo that they would fix the bridge over Mvutshane Dam.
The promise was made after seven family members drowned at the dam on 24 September 2017.
One of their relatives, Nkosentsha Ncalane (47), said it was heartbreaking that government had failed to keep their promise.
“We understand that whatever they promised to do was not going to bring back our loved ones, but it would have shown they cared.
“Seeing them doing nothing breaks our hearts.
“It shows that everything they said to us after the tragedy was just a lie.
“They knew they were not going to do anything about the situation,” said Nkosentsha.
He said fixing the bridge would have meant a lot to the residents because it would prevent another tragedy from happening.
Mayor Zibuyisile Khuzwayo-Dlamini said: “The bridge is owned by the department of transport while the dam is owned by Ilembe district.
“I can’t comment freely as the matter is being handled by them.”
Phumlani Ncalane (34), Gqamile Mpungose (30), Samkelo Ncalane (18), Wonder Ngcobo (17), Thabiso Ngcobo (14), Abongwe Ncalane (3) and 10-month-old Nkazimulo Ncalane were killed instantly when the car they were travelling in swerved into the dam.
The family was on the way to a prayer meeting when the driver of the Toyota Venture in which they were travelling lost control of the vehicle.
