Pensioners from KwaNogawu village, in KwaZulu-Natal, risk drowning each month when they are forced to cross a raging, crocodile-inhabited river to collect their old-age pension. 

The elderly, school children and mothers carrying children have for years braved the uThukela River in the province's midlands as the nearest bridge to their social grant pay point is more than 45km away.

A week ago, an eight-year-old schoolgirl drowned while crossing the river to attend a school activity.

Grannies from the village this weekend spoke of their fear of crossing the river, which is about 100m wide - sometimes taking more than half an hour to do so.

Khethile Kubheka, 80, is one of hundreds of grannies from KwaNogawu village who wake at 5am on pension day to prepare for their trek across the river.

Kubheka, like many her age, has bad eyesight and has to wait for others to help her cross the river, regardless of the weather.

In groups of two to five, the grannies cross the uThukela every month to get to the nearest pay point, in Umsinga.