WATCH: ‘Please build us a bridge’ - Crossing dangerous river in rural KZN still a nightmare for residents

QOLOQOLO - For as long as anyone in Qoloqolo can remember, they have always crossed a river to get to schools, clinics, shops and police stations. 

Parents from the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast village grew up crossing the river to get to school and their children are still suffering the same fate. 

Thirty years into democracy, it does not look like this practice will end soon. 

The Mtwalume River stretches for over 84km across the South Coast. 

It also runs along the secluded village of Qoloqolo where it separates the community from basic facilities.

School pupils who attend Mtwalume primary and high schools must strip down to their undergarments before crossing the river. 

Parent Mbongeni Myende says his son once fractured his hand after slipping on a rock while trying to get to school. 

“All we’re asking for the government is to see us as humans; we pay rates and taxes and all we want is for it to just build us a bridge where cars and people can travel across the river safely.”

Recently, the community has managed to organise a private scholar transport. 

However, many families cannot afford the R300 monthly price tag for transportation to and from school per pupil.

This means they must make a difficult decision between buying food and

seeing children navigating a dangerous river to get to school.