Around the world there are places that are associated with suicide. Sometimes it's because the location provides an easy way to leave this Earth. Other times, lore grows around an area, and those in despair are seeking something meaningful in their death.

South Africa is not exempt from this phenomenon, especially with the country's high suicide rate. It comes in at a startling 8th in the world when it comes to suicide rates. Roughly 24% of deaths are suicides, nearly a quarter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate

There are a few locations that have become suicide hotspots, but I'd like to talk about one today. It holds a special place for me. I've driven over it before. Call it reconnaisance. I still see it as my portal to the next world when my story here ends. Holy shit I'm so depressed I've seen my therapist every day this week since Tuesday. I might cut tonight. It happens. But enough about that nonsense. Let's talk about...

Van Stadens Bridge

The Van Stadens Bridge is located in Eastern Cape, in a city named Gqeberha but is typically called by its previous name Port Elizabeth. That is worth a post in itself. Mayos were pissed when the city was officially named into something they cannot pronounce. To say Port Elizabeth is a form of rebellion in some circumstances.

The bridge was fully constructed to bridge two mountains and to cross the shallow Van Stadens River. The bridge sees regular traffic as it transports vehicles across the N2. It is a standard arch bridge, but there is beauty in simplicity.

The Suicides

The bridge was fully completed in November 11, 1971. A mere 18 days later, a man jumped to his death from the bridge. This is where the lore and legacy of Van Stadens Bridge begins. Suicides at the bridge continued, taking even the life of the daughter of journ*list Frankz Kemp. A R1-million video-camera surveillance system, paid for by private donors, because the government wasn't doing shit about it.

The Benzos have hit and I'm seeing double so sorry for what comes next. So how many lives did the bridge take? At least 70 at low estimates. You see, it has also been a site for murder. This occurred when he lured two children off the bridge before ending his own life. At this point, you should notice that this isn't a jump you're going to survive, regardless of whether the Van Stadens river is dried up or not. It stands at 140m, more than enough to switch your lights off, but just short enough to be wracked with guilt and doubt on the way down.

The Suicides Part 2

In 2008, the oldest suicider took his final jumpin' at age 80. To put things into perspective, the bridge claims a life every 18 months. Not long before, a Humansdorp teacher Nicholaas Martinus, 26, jumped off on June 4 and a day before that, Kensington man Chris Botha. Some more facts:

>grieving mom, Rosemary Wait, 62, jumped to her death below: her only son Charles Jr. had drowned six years earlier in a rafting tragedy at the Storms River mouth in the raging Gamtoos River below the bridge -- and she could not stop grieving for her only son...

In 2013, the government installed 2.7m high mesh to deter jumpers. Did it work? A resounding no. It still holds its reputation as the bridge of death. The mesh can easily be climbed over. It's more of a suggestion not to keep yourself safe rather than an actual preventative measure. I've seen the mesh. It's a joke.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120309072858/http://digitaljournal.com/blog/1462

Here's a message from the Democratic Alliance, a political party in South Africa.

And finally,, the bridge:

Modern bridge:

Before mesh:

A tragic beauty I'm sure you'll agree :) tune in next when we discuss Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to an neurodivergent degree.