Toilet facilities collapse at Sydenham school

SPARE a thought for learners at Spearman Road Primary School in Sydenham where the sewer system has collapsed and toilet facilities are so broken that the children can’t use them.

Despite an official from the Department of Public Works inspecting the shocking state of the toilet facilities at the school, nothing has been done.

Now an appeal is being made to the community, donors and corporates to help donate building materials or funds to fix the problem.

Councillor Chris Pappas said he was first alerted to the fact that the toilets were in a shocking state last September after the headmistress, Mrs Nzama, had approached the Department of Public Works.

“Mrs Nzama hadn’t heard back from the department and the then chairperson of the school governing body contacted me in February. I did a site visit with her and was shocked by what I saw. The toilets are in a disgusting condition, the sewer system is also blocked between the two blocks, and the soak pit that is connected to the mains has collapsed onto itself and needs to be fixed,” he said.

The former chairperson of the school governing body and community activist, Natalie Bazley said: “The toilets seats are broken and the children can’t use them, it is terrible and something needs to be done. Someone from Public Works came to the school to look at the toilets, but they never came back, we have been forgotten. I asked for portable toilets for the young children to use, but nothing has come of this,” she said.

ALSO READ: Opportunity for school choirs

Pappas said the school has been quoted R180 000 to fix the toilets and sewer issues, which the school can’t afford, and appealed to private sponsors or donors to help.

“The scary thing is that the government has cut the education budget by R7 billion and has increased salaries by eight per cent, so it is spending 80 per cent on salaries and wages and 20 per cent on infrastructure. Schools like this are suffering,” he said.

He added that people also needed to teach their children to appreciate what they have. “Children don’t recognise infrastructure as an asset, they think it will just be replaced by government, which doesn’t help,” he said.

Any local companies or residents who are able to contribute towards repairing the toilets, can contact Natalie on 072 865 0819.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts