Its remote location, high in the Lebombo mountains, renders it beautiful, unspoilt but extremely poor. Most people live in self built houses like the ones below. (stone and cement house - left; one made from stick and stones - right)

Ingwavuma River (above) - dried up during one of the many periods of drought

A homestead nestles in the valley surrounded by forest (above)

Although there is now a tar road linking the centre of Ingwavuma to the main road from Jozini to Kosi Bay, all other roads are rough dirt tracks, many only passable by 4x4 or by foot. The picture below shows one of the better ones.

Most people live without electricity, using candles for light and bottled gas or wood for cooking. Water is collected from springs, bore holes, rivers and, where these are in place, from communal metered standpipes. Water collection is mainly the responsibility of children. These containers are 20 or 25 litres.

Collecting water from a spring (above) and from the river (below)

The walk down a steep incline to the river through bush (above) and two nine year olds beginning the trek back up (below)

A four year old tragically drowned while fetching water from the river above

Adult unemployment stands at 60% and 85% of those in employment earn less than R1500 per month, so poverty is widespread. Illiteracy rates are high, as is the incidence of HIV and AIDS. In 2007 39.8% of pregnant women atending the local hospital were HIV+. More than half of all deaths in Ingwavuma between 2003 and 2008 were certified to be the result of HIV/AIDS. The average life expectancy has improved since the roll out of ARVs and now stands at 48 years. (The Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine April 2010). Children in many communities come to school hungry and for many their only meal is the one they receive at school.

Children are taught in large classes (80 is not uncommon) and many are grossly overcrowded. All the children below right squash into two classrooms.