No action yet on replacing of poles, vandalised benches or other repairs
POLES at the Gonubie boardwalk are still missing exactly three months after the Go! & Express reported on the situation on the popular attraction.
In the article (Despair at Gonubie boardwalk, 13 April) both the residents and Buffalo City Metro were outraged by the vandalism on the boardwalk and asked those responsible to please stop.
Contacted for comment BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said the total repairs of the boardwalk is budgeted within the capital project budget of this new financial year.
“The boardwalk will however be made safe until all the processes are concluded,” he said.
Some of the poles from the boardwalk are missing and one of the three benches have been completely destroyed and damaged.
BCM residents expressed their disappointment in the municipality for not having fixed the thoroughfare for tourists and residents of the metro.
A Gonubie resident who wanted to remain anonymous said it is going to be hot soon and people will go to the beach but they will not be safe.
“It’s sad that they have not fixed it yet; it is very dangerous. An old lady once tripped and fell here; people had to help her get to her car. Young families with young children can’t allow their children to run ahead and enjoy themselves, because kids will fall off. I am saddened by the state of our boardwalk, really,” she said.
Ngwenya also said the cit
y is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine a more effective way of repairing the boardwalk and once that is completed the design process will then begin.
BCM at the time ( April 2017) claimed that they had no idea about the situation at the 500m-long boardwalk that stretches out towards the main beach, the last East London beach to be awarded Blue Flag status. “We are going to inform the relevant department and they will go and have a look. If the damaged benches belong to the municipality we shall kick-start the fixing process.”
