Parents at Roodepan High School and the community supported the School Governing Body’s call to embark on a tool down, pens down and stop the matriculants from continuing with their exams due to the flooding sewerage at the school.
They accused the Northern Cape Department of Education and the Sol Plaatje municipality of continuously ignoring their pleas to deal with the sewerage problem.
The Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatje municipality is accused of making various empty promises to fix the sewerage.
The sewerage flows from at least three points in and around the school, flooding the Lethabo park shacks next to the school.
The residents pointed out the unbearable stench. Children are complaining of headaches, nausea and sinuses upon their return from school.
One parent said it is unfair for her son to write his matric exams under such unbearable conditions. “I am not staying far from the school and the stench is awful. Imagine what my child is going through, because the children and teachers breathe and eat next to this sewerage,” said the parent.
One of the Lethabo park residents said the drains started getting worse eight months ago. “We have been in this health hazard throughout the lockdown period,” she said. “Sometimes the municipality comes to unblock the drains, but they overflow before the truck even leaves Roodepan. It does not seem like there is proper planning for the sewerage flow,” commented the resident.
When residents were ready to get learners out of the classrooms during the week, the Mayor arrived with consulting engineers and Acting municipal manager, Boy Dhluwayo. He met with delegates from the Department of Education, the SGB and the School Principal. It is believed that representatives of SADTU and community leaders were also part of the meeting.
Mabilo blamed the sewege overflow on vandalism by the community and communal farmers accused of breaking the pump station to feed their livestock.
A task team, comprising stakeholders to coordinate all short, medium and long term goals was established.
A team of engineers will assist with pumping and disposing of waste schedule. At the same time, the municipality will provide chemicals to mitigate the smell.
By Staff Reported
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