Children Risk Lives Daily on Perilous Trek to School in Rural South Africa

In the rural area of eMdlelanto, in the Umzinyathi district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, children face a life-threatening journey to school each day. For nearly 20 years, they have climbed a dilapidated, makeshift stairway, a situation that has led to injuries. "When I was a child in 1994, I fell and injured my neck," one resident recounted, emphasizing the long-standing danger. Despite repeated pleas to the Department of Education and local municipalities, the community's calls for a proper road remain unanswered. The Department cites a distance of less than 3 kilometers as the reason for not providing scholar transport, a justification that parents find unacceptable. The transport department is expected to visit the area on Tuesday, raising hopes for a solution. Until then, the children's daily trek continues, accompanied by silent prayers for safety.