By Obed Makgoale and Zwi Maphiri
The newly constructed Moletji Bridge is going to help the community to pass on the road D19 with easy access at Moletši Moshate. This comes after the successful official opening of the bridge by Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Ms Thoko Didiza on 20 April 2024 in Limpopo Province.
The project is part of rural development and was aimed at improving accessibility to the village and to minimize crime at night. The minister was accompanied by Limpopo MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Thabo Mokone and MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana and other local leaders.
Kgoshi Kgabo Moloto III of Moletši Moshate requested DALRRD Minister to construct a bridge for his community after seeing his people including school children struggling to pass the small river when it rains and crime during the night. The minister responded with a beautiful bridge constructed from an infrastructure of good quality costing R2,2 million. Thirty jobs were created with the help of Polokwane municipality, and it took the contractor six months (July until November 2023) to complete the bridge. Household of approximately 500 will benefit from the constructed bridge.
On behalf of the community, Kgoshi said he was grateful because the Minister has managed to deliver on her promise. “She listened to all our problems and promised to help, and she assisted us. We worked with the minister for the past five years and she helped us even during the Covid-19. Minister is passionate about helping young farmers and she has helped some of them in Moletši. We are going to give people land, but I am pleading with government to consider our request about approving our lease for the suggested Moletji Mall,” he said.
The minister mentioned that DALRRD is committed to improving the livelihoods of rural people of Moletši. She confirmed that Kgoshi Moloto III approached her for the construction of the bridge. “We are here because the community requested that we build the bridge because their children faced crime when passing the place and vehicles did not pass the ditch. We here to celebrate with the community because if it was not for you this bridge would not have been here. The bridge is the development for people and rural development is the base that facilitate other developments. We need to close the gap of the development between those in rural and urban areas. Communities must work with chiefs so that they can have development,” she said.
The Minister praised Kgoshi for uplifting and developing his community and giving land to young farmers. She also visited a Lavrador Farm project in the area before the Moletši bridge hand over. The farm is owned by a group of young people from Moletši village. They farm in goats, cattle, and broiler chickens, the farm also provides experiential training for youth who are studying agriculture.
