Tsomo, R. Tsomo, South Africa 1898

© Aberdeen Museums
The "Levey" Bridge. This bridge was opened by W.E.stanford, Under Secretary for Native Affairs, at Tsomo, in Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa.  Among his papers held at the University of Cape Town is a speech made to the Fingo people on the opening of the bridge.

On 10th September 1898 he said

"Under the wise direction of your Chief Magistrate Major Elliot, than whom no man is more loved throughout these territories! you have shown yourselves worthy of the great trust reposed in you by the Government.  Look at this bridge suspended like a beautiful thing of the air over the murderous river which year after year in its flood time has devoured its victims, men women and children.  Now there is safety for all."

There is a footbridge, and two road bridges on the 1956 map; only one road bridge and the remains of the footings of the earlier roadbridge can be found today.  The footbridge, presumably the suspension bridge above, must have been removed sometime after 1956.