Imagine having to climb into a 200-litre plastic drum every morning just to get to school, visit a neighbour or access basic services. For residents of Dikidikini village in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, this is not some bizarre adventure but a dangerous part of everyday life.
Videos showing residents being transported across a river in large blue plastic containers have repeatedly shocked social media users, drawing attention to the community’s desperate struggle with inadequate infrastructure.
The crossing stretches more than 100 metres, turning what should be an ordinary journey into a potentially life-threatening experience, particularly when heavy rainfall causes the river to swell. 
Dikidikini village: Children and elderly residents risk their lives crossing river
Located near Flagstaff in the Ntabankulu Local Municipality, Dikidikini sits on one side of the Mzintlava River, which separates residents from neighbouring communities and essential services.
Without a proper bridge, villagers have relied on makeshift crossings, including large plastic drums that local men push or pull through the water.
The situation becomes particularly concerning for schoolchildren, elderly residents and people living with disabilities.
Children attending Mneketshe Combined School have to navigate the river to reach their classrooms. When water levels rise, some pupils immerse themselves in the water while others rely on the plastic containers to get across.
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In a March 2024 report, Eyewitness News documented the difficulties pupils faced, including teachers who sometimes advised children to stay home during heavy rainfall because they feared the river could sweep them away.
One teacher, Nontsindiso Msentwa, explained that she only understood the seriousness of the situation after arriving at the school and seeing how residents used large plastic containers to cross.
The danger extends beyond school attendance. Residents have reported people being swept away by the river, with some bodies never recovered.
The river also complicates access to healthcare, transportation and other essential services, leaving residents dependent on weather conditions to determine whether they can safely travel.
South African government’s broken promises to Dikidikini residents
The community’s struggle is not new. Residents told local media that they have relied on makeshift river crossings for decades, with some tracing the practice back to the 1990s.
Government officials first acknowledged the need for a permanent bridge several years ago, with residents reportedly receiving assurances in 2018 that authorities would address the problem. However, procurement difficulties, failed contractor arrangements and funding challenges repeatedly delayed the project.
In November 2024, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported that authorities had secured approximately R51 million towards constructing a bridge across the river.
The project involved cooperation between the Eastern Cape government, private-sector partners and local authorities.
However, progress remained slow. The Ntabankulu municipality acknowledged procurement problems, including the termination of an earlier contractor and the withdrawal of another appointment after compliance issues.
Authorities also proposed a temporary 60-metre modular floating pedestrian walkway, funded through a partnership between the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Old Mutual.
Dikidikini Bridge project finally gets new momentum
There is, however, fresh hope for Dikidikini residents.
On October 9, 2026, government representatives and community leaders gathered for a sod-turning ceremony marking renewed efforts to construct the long-awaited bridge.
According to Pondoland Times, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Zoleka Capa and other local government officials attended the ceremony, which signalled the beginning of the latest construction phase.
The bridge project, which also includes an access road, will connect Dikidikini in Ntabankulu with Ncembe in neighbouring Ingquza Hill Local Municipality.
Development Bank of Southern Africa procurement records list a contract award of approximately R57.8 million for the project. Authorities expect the infrastructure to improve access to schools, healthcare facilities, housing and other essential services.
The Daily Dispatch had earlier reported that officials projected September 2027 as the completion date for the permanent bridge.
For residents who have spent years navigating dangerous waters, the latest development offers some hope that their children may eventually reach school without climbing into plastic drums.
Until the new bridge becomes operational, however, the Mzintlava River remains a daily obstacle for a community that has waited far too long for a safe crossing.
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