Water shortages in the townships have forced one school to send their learners home early, while another resorted to locking its toilets.
Water shortages in the townships have forced one school to send their learners home early, while another resorted to locking its toilets.
In Hlalani, Samuel Ntsiko Primary School learners headed home at 11.30am on Tuesday and Wednesday because there was no water to drink or to flush the toilets.
“The toilets are in bad shape,” said Principal Nombulelo Koliti, who had to have them locked. She said the problem has left teachers “damn frustrated”.
One teacher was at her wits end because the problem was creating chaos in the teaching schedule. “Lessons are disrupted because the children want to go to the toilet, they can’t. They want to drink water, they can’t,” she said.
According to Koliti, there has been no water for about a week. The school’s rainwater tank supply is running low, and there is not enough water for school lunches to be prepared.
Koliti said she contacted the municipality on Tuesday but could not get hold of anyone to talk to, and had to leave a message.
On Wednesday morning she phoned the fire department, which brought water that afternoon and promised to bring more on Thursday. Koliti said the fire department has been “very helpful”, and are working around the clock.
On the other side of Raglan Road, Fikozolo Primary School in Vukani also experienced a stoppage, but sent no children home.
Principal Monde Dlepu said the school’s rainwater tank was still a quarter full, but toilets had to be locked at 11.30am on Wednesday. He regretted that the municipality had not warned the schools about the problem.
Makana Municipality spokesperson Thandy Matebese said the matter had been brought to his attention and he has spoken with the directorate dealing with water, who is still investigating the cause of the stoppage.
Two other schools that have been affected by water shortages are CM Vellem Higher Primary and Nombulelo High School.
Nombulelo Principal Mthuthulezi Koliti said that the school has had an arrangement with the fire department to bring water every second day for the past month.
