Unique Transport Experience
South Africa’s only man-drawn pontoon is in Malgas crossing the Breede River. It’s an extraordinary system, which has been in operation for many years, and is a unique transport experience. The pont only takes two cars at a time, and is powered by nothing more than a cable, some chains and two sinewy men in overalls.
This is how it works: A thick cable is suspended across the river and, once the cars are loaded, the two human motors take up their positions on either end of the pont. Both the men wear a harness, slung over their shoulders, which is attached to a thin, dangling chain. At a predetermined signal, the men flick these chains around the thick cable, take up the slack, and start to walk forward. Once the inertia of the pontoon is overcome, they continue walking slowly along the pont, dragging the heavy load across the river by the strength of their backs.
When one man reaches the end of the pont, he expertly unwinds his harness chain and walks to the opposite end of the floating platform. Once in position, he slings his harness chain around the thick cable again, and carries on pulling. And so they go, back and forth, until they have pulled the pont across the river. At the other side, they unload their cargo, take on two new vehicles, and pull the pont back across the Breede River. The pont operates eight hours a day.