Isipingo and KwaMakhutha schools secure clean water
It has been said that the eThekwini Municipality loses just over 50% of its water due to leaks.
THE provincial government and a private company have undertaken a collaborative project to provide clean water to learners at some schools in Isipingo and KwaMakhutha.
Launched recently, a total of 17 schools were included in the project spearheaded by Diageo South Africa, a leading alcohol manufacturer in the country, along with a non-government organisation, Triple-P, to repair and maintain water infrastructure.
ALSO READ: Win boosts school’s water-saving efforts
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said more businesses need to partner with government in ensuring the roll-out of infrastructure to rural and township communities.
“Today we are celebrating a milestone of the partnership with Diageo South Africa which will see repairs of water leakages and sanitation in schools, thus ensuring constant and uninterrupted water supply to township and rural schools. It is difficult to recover lost learning and teaching time due to water shortages and interruptions. We commend Diageo South Africa for this commitment, which clearly projects them as a responsible corporate citizen of South Africa, not only in words, but in deeds. It is our wish that other businesses follow in their footsteps, by uplifting the communities with whom they do business,” said Dube-Ncube.
Highlighting the success of the project, Premier Dube-Ncube said it has resulted in the saving of 14 million litres of potable water per year, which is about 800 000 litres of water that would have been lost per school per year due to water leakages.
“Schools in underserved communities are the most affected by water leaks, and the severe water loss increases the schools’ water bills which most schools cannot afford. This project of fixing water has provided employment opportunities to qualified and experienced unemployed plumbers, including providing skills development and training. We urge community members to desist from destroying water infrastructure because it impacts negatively on the provision of service delivery. Those who vandalise school infrastructure must be reported to authorities so that they can face the full might of the law,” she said.
It has been placed on record that eThekwini Municipality loses just over 50% of its potable water due to leaks.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom at 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
