VIDEO: Hospital sewage spoils special-needs school
A burst manhole on the school property spewing raw sewage into the river.
Raw sewage from a local hospital was reportedly flowing through a burst manhole streaming into the Letaba River.
The mess is reported to spring from the hospital waste sewers, which would indicate an extremely toxic supply of raw sewage. The manhole, situated on the property of the Letaba Special School, cracked open due to internal pressure caused by a blockage in the system.
The Herald was approached by community members who were concerned about the devastating health risks to the children. The heinousness of the hazard faced by the children is only further compounded by the fact that these are children with special needs, including physical and mental disabilities.
Moreover, not only does the spill present an extremely hazardous environment for the children in the school, but the streams of sewage have found their way to the embankment of the Ritavi River, which feeds into the Letaba River itself.
Raw sewage contains – aside from the obvious – chlorides, micro organisms and chemicals that can cause illness and infection. If the untreated waste finds its way into the drinking water supply, the consequences could be devastating. The Letaba River constitutes a major water supply for the entire area.
Staff members of the school claim that the appropriate authorities have indeed been notified and they are awaiting the delivery of structural materials that are needed to fix the spill. But by the time of going to press the management of the school was unavailable for comment.
Letaba Herald will keep the community updated as more information becomes available.
Also see:
