eNCA reported that Nomini Primary School’s drainage system was to blame. The stench and concerns for pupils’ health led to the closure of the school almost a week ago.
School Governing Body (SGB) member Mary Nkwanyana says in rainy weather, sewage in the corridors rises and seeps into classrooms.
“We can’t have this situation. How will they learn when there’s a foul smell? They are even scared to step inside the classroom and they don’t have a place to play anymore. The sewage is also close to the kitchen where food is prepared for the children.”
Children at the school have been enduring raw sewage spewing out of drains with the dirty green water having traces of faeces in front of their classrooms. Maggots have now blocked the toilets.
Gauteng Education Spokesperson Steve Mabona says, “there should be a process where the water is being pumped out, and if not, then that process will go ahead.”
The Sowetan reported that growing tree roots were to blame for the collapsed drainage system at the primary school.
On Thursday, parents shut down the school, saying the spillage posed a health risk to the 1,400 pupils at school.
Yesterday, only a few parents, cleaners and SGB members were at school.
One of the teachers, who asked not to be named, said the problem started in October.
“We have about 14 pupils from grade R to 4 who got sick as a result of this sewage. They had diarrhoea, were vomiting and some suffered from skin rash,” the teacher told Sowetan.
“When the drain problem started last year, the school principal called plumbers who told us that the problem was the tree roots that had grown on the sewer pipe making it difficult for the water to flow easily.”
The teachers said the situation was reported to the provincial education department which promised to come to the school but never arrived.
