Digidigini Villagers Risk Crossing the Mzinhlavu River

The eighty-year-old Daliwe Sulungile, who's living with disability, has lived in Digidigini Village his whole life.

He says they have many challenges and there's a lack of service delivery.

That's why they are risking their lives to cross the Mzinhlavu River.

We are in the rural areas. And I don't know if the leaders hear us.

We vote. We start by voting, we see that some people are going to vote for us.

But there's nothing that comes our way. The school children, they study in the rain.

During winter, we hold onto the cold.

Mmalumsele lwamfanekiso says even though she's been crossing this river since childhood, she still gets palpitations every time she has to cross it.

There are many challenges I face. I can't get into the river now. There are days I get in the river. There are times when I feel my body is big because I have this fear that the river I can't get into the river now. There are days I get in the river. There are times when I feel my body is big because I have this fear that the river

might swallow me whole. I get in the water, and the river takes me. I get in the water, and the river takes me. might swallow me whole. I get in the water, and the river takes me. I get in the water, and the river takes me.

Vuzile Samani is a so-called drum operator.

He and others lock people inside the drum and float it over the river with a rope tightened it as a safety feature.

I started when people gave birth to me. I grew up here, and I do what I do. It's not something you can just do.

You have to learn how to do it first. You have to know how not to drown someone.

You have to know how not to lose a life while crossing.

Welcome, sir. So I also have this thing that I will help, but the risk of that thing, I will do it, but I see that it-