After a car accident forced him into early retirement, this former lecturer decided that if he couldn’t teach students in a classroom anymore, he would provide help in a different form: by ensuring their safety as they cross the “bridge from hell” on their way to school.
Every morning, whether it’s in the pouring rain or scorching heat, 42-year-old Thamsanqa Joseph Nkevu gets up at 04:00 and makes his way to the open field opposite Solomon Mahlangu High School in Nelson Mandela Bay, where he selflessly helps learners cross the bridge safely, without falling off or getting robbed or raped.
According to Nkevu, who, with three theo-logy degrees behind his name, is also a reverend and skilled martial artist, there have been several incidents of learners getting robbed in the vicinity of this bridge and since there are so many bushes surrounding this bridge, criminals have been known to drag learners behind the bushes and rape them.
Last year, Nkevu decided that enough was enough and now he is well known by the learners where he stands at his signature spot under a certain tree, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.
“The first thing I do when I get here around 06:00 in the morning is to patrol the area to check for any suspicious movement, especially behind the dense bushes.
“I stand under this specific tree that overlooks the bridge because it gives me a full view of learners, when they are making their way across the bridge.
“The only time I stand on the bridge is when I see a threat approaching then I go down myself and ensure that the learner makes it across safely,” Nkevu explained.
He walked back to Solomon Mahlangu High School and pointed in the general direction of the open field, the bridge nowhere in sight as it is located in a ditch.
“Once you are on the bridge you are out of sight. No one can see you from anywhere. It will be just you and the would-be robber or rapist.
You have no idea how many robberies have taken place just on this bridge over the years, but since I started patrolling here, literally no incident of such a nature has occurred, which proves to me that visibility is key,” Nkevu said.
He mentioned that they call it the “bridge from hell” as it is nothing more than a concrete slab with no railings, which means that learners could either fall off the bridge or someone hiding in the ditch could grab them from below since the bridge is quite low.
“Last year a R5 million tender was given to build a safe and better bridge for the learners but this one is even worse than the previous bridge,” he said.
“As I was standing watch (recently) looking at the learners manoeuvre in this weather I was heartbroken. They were stumbling through this muddy area trying to make their way to school and still had to cross the bridge.
“People don’t understand how important this crossing area is to the learners and how we as a community should do everything in our power to ensure that nothing disrupts learners from getting their education,” Nkevu explained.
“I may not be able to teach in a classroom anymore, but I do speak to some of the learners, as they cross the bridge, and encourage them. I discourage the ones that are on Tik or using other drugs and I try to help them navigate their youth by making the right choices. I will never do this for money. This is to help my community.”
Nkevu added that the community has been very appreciative of his initiative.
“I get a lot of encouragement, moral support and prayers from the Khamfi community and support from the broader community on social media.
There is also a gentleman, named Payto, who stands guard with me at least twice a week and I really appreciate all the support.”
NMBM spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki, said that the issue of crime was a primary competency of the SAPS, however, through a joint security cluster that includes SAPS, Metro Police, Metro Security and CPFs, efforts are being made to ensure that neighbourhoods are safe.
“It is encouraging to know that there are persons within communities who contribute to make sure that people, more specifically children, are safe.
“It is encouraged that such a person contact the local CPFs and police station for his and her efforts to be integrated within crime prevention efforts and within the confines of the law,” Mniki said.
