Maganagobuswa — Every rainy season, the children of Velangezwi Primary School face a terrifying journey. Learners as young as six cross the fast-flowing Pikinini and Moteti rivers just to reach their classrooms, risking their lives for an education many take for granted.
Parents say the dangerous crossings have become a yearly nightmare. Overflowing rivers, slippery stones and makeshift planks have turned a simple walk to school into a daily battle for survival.
“When the rivers flood our children are trapped on the other side,” said a parent, Thembi Mashilwane. “Some cry because they fear the water, but they know if they miss school, they fall behind. No child should have to risk their life for education.”
Last year, during a community outreach meeting, the community said officials from Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality stood before the residents and promised to build a bridge that would end the children’s suffering. Yet, months have passed and the promise remains unfulfilled, leaving the community frustrated and afraid as another rainy season begins.
And sometimes the children must wait hours for the water to subside. Others, desperate to attend school, try to cross using slippery stones or makeshift wooden planks, a dangerous gamble that has already caused minor injuries and near tragedies.
“We hold our hearts every morning when our children leave,” said Gogo Maria Maseko, an elderly resident. “Sometimes we even walk them halfway, but when the rain is heavy, even adults can’t cross. The municipality must stop making promises and start saving lives.”
The Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality disputed claims that they had promised to build a bridge. According to the municipality, there was never a community meeting about the matter, but rather an oversight visit by political principals, ward councillors from Wards 2 and 4, and Roads and Stormwater officials on 20 October 2025.
School principal Monama Bethuel said attendance drops drastically during wet months, as parents refuse to risk their children’s safety. “We lose almost a week of classes each time it rains heavily. The learners want to come but nature stands between them and their education. A bridge is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” he said.
The school, which serves learners from surrounding villages, including Pikinini and Moteti, has been a beacon of hope for rural families who value education as the path to a better future. But that hope is dimmed by fear and disappointment. Without safe access, many children face disrupted learning and some even consider dropping out.
The residents say they remember too well how municipal officials once came with cameras, promising development. “They took pictures and said construction would start before the next rainy season,” said Mashilwane. “We even celebrated, thinking at last our children would be safe. But nothing happened. The grass has grown where they said the bridge would be built.”
As the rainy clouds gather over Maganagobuswa, anxiety rises among parents. “Sometimes I see them standing on the riverbank, waiting for the water to calm down,” said Philip Thaga, a community leader. “They stand there in their school uniforms, shivering, but still hopeful. That sight breaks a parent’s heart. How many more years must we beg for something so simple as a bridge to protect our future generation?”
The community say temporary solutions, such as a footbridge or guided crossing during peak floods, could save lives until a permanent structure is built. “Our children’s tears have fallen into those rivers. Their dreams should not drown there too,” said Mashilwane.
The municipality said due to the seriousness of the situation, it has engaged stakeholders, including the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT) and the South African National Defence Force to assist.
A joint inspection was conducted on 06 November 2025, where officials assessed the river crossing and indicated the possibility of assistance through the Welisizwe Rural Bridge Programme.
They said the reason construction has not begun is because this is not a maintenance issue but the construction of a completely new bridge, requiring external funding and collaboration. It added that timelines cannot be confirmed at this stage as engagements are still underway.
Regarding temporary safety measures, the municipality said no temporary structure can be safely implemented during rainy periods. Instead, parents have been advised to use an alternative route via the main road near the Engen garage during heavy rainfall.
