Govt 'determined' to put an end to pupils risking lives at river crossings to get to school - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa told traditional leaders in Parliament on Thursday that the government was building bridges in communities to stop the drownings, especially in rural areas.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nations Address in a joint seating of Parliament in the Cape Town City Hall on 8 February 2024. Picture: Supplied/GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said school children drowning while attempting to cross rivers to go to school must come to an end.
He told traditional leaders in Parliament on Thursday that the government was building bridges in communities to stop the drownings, especially in rural areas.
Ramaphosa was addressing the official opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders where he touched on issues affecting traditional communities.
READ: Ramaphosa urges traditional leaders to put an end to initiates' deaths
"But it is also saddening to see how young learners have to scale through rivers, almost drowning, when they have to go to school. This is a process we are determined to bring to an end."
He said government was committed to building 96 bridges across the country.
"Many of these bridges have been built or are being completed and we are now also going to move on to build more bridges. We need to litter our country with navigatable structures."