Staff members from Lindile Secondary School stopped presenting classes to learners on Monday, 5 March, due to sewer problems and buildings on the verge of collapse.
Also read: Ithafa Secondary School receives assistance of R20 000 from Abahle Society Group
The matter has been bubbling under the surface until it boiled over on Monday, 5 March when sewage from a pump on the premises burst open and flowed through the school towards the kitchen area.
The women in charge of cooking closed up the kitchen in fear of contamination.
The Department of Health and Environment visited the school after teachers stopped working last Monday and was of the opinion that the school is not safe in terms of health and safety.
The department recommended its closure and teachers subsequently stopped working until the school is fixed.
When the Highvelder enquired at Msukaligwa Municipality regarding the sewage, municipal spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, said Lindile Secondary School is at a disadvantage since it is situated next to a sewage plant.
“All the sewage from all over Ermelo flows to the plant, causing the permanent stench surrounding the area.”
Mr Zwane also said that with ageing infrastructure and population increase, blockages are bound to happen, but government is doing all it can to come up with solutions.
However, sewage is just one problem the school is facing.
The three-storey building is in a deteriorating state, with walls cracking and ceilings on the verge of collapse.
The school, opening in 1989, has seen its fair share of seasons, but no maintenance is done.
The staff members met with the Department of Education Msukaligwa 1 Circuit Manager, Ms Sharon Marais, to find possible solutions.
Teacher union parties, namely the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) and the National Teachers Union (NATU) were in attendance and it was unanimously agreed upon that the working conditions were not ideal.
The school officially closed it gates with learners told not to come to school.
However, this has not stopped Grade 12 learners, Themba Thwala and Fortune Nkoane, who were seen studying in one of the classes when the Highvelder visited the deserted school on Wednesday, 7 March.
“The conditions are really bad, but we suffer more when we stop learning,” Fortune said.
Environmental activists, the Khuthala Environmental Care Group (KECG), who brought the matter to light in previous years, have weighed in on the issue.
“Lindile Secondary School has produced most of the working class of Ermelo.
“Time and time again, the issue of Lindile has been raised with the municipality, who did nothing, resulting in the education of its learners suffering,” Mr Philani Mngomezulu, KECG chairman, said.
“It is up to us, the community, DOE and the municipality to work hand in hand to build it up again.”
The South African Communist Party (SACP) is also said to be joining the call for immediate assistance of the school, with the union calling for action.
A protest march against the municipality will take place on 16 March where teachers, their unions and the community will hand over a memorandum of demands to the municipality.
According to Mr Mbali Cindi, a teacher at the school, the purpose of the march is to fight against the sewerage system and the dilapidated school buildings which are posing a danger to both teachers and learners.
