Vosman parents take a stand against delays in water refills at local school
'When it comes to not having water in areas, our schools struggle a lot'
Frustrated parents in Vosman recently disrupted learning at Jeremiah Mdaka Primary School to draw attention to the persistent hygiene crisis affecting their children.
The parents launched a formal complaint on Wednesday, February 14, alleging that the school lacks running water and suffers from dilapidated toilets, compelling learners to resort to using bushes for basic sanitary needs.
Ms Annah Maseromane, a worried parent, expressed her dissatisfaction and said, “According to information we received from the school, the municipality sometimes takes days to come and refill the JoJo tanks. When they arrive, they do not provide enough water for cleaning up, cooking, or toilet usage.”
The frustration among parents has reached a boiling point, demanding intervention from the Department of Education and the Emalahleni Local Municipality.
Member of the School Governing Body (SGB), Mr Themba Simelane when confronted by irate parents, admitted to the challenges, “We try by all means to get water trucks to refill JoJo tanks, but they consistently face delays, causing disruptions at the school.”
“The municipality’s neglect jeopardises our children’s education and well-being. It is intolerable, and we encourage the government to prioritise the timely replenishment of water tanks to avoid these severe repercussions. We want operational toilets, and they should install more because there aren’t enough, and we need water,’’ added another parent, Ms Tumi Simelane.
Mr Gerald Sambo, spokesperson from the Department of Education acknowledged the struggles faced by schools without water, “When it comes to not having water in areas, our schools struggle a lot. However, I will refer this matter to the municipality. As for the need for more toilets in the schools, we will look into it.”
A questionnaire has been sent to the municipal spokesperson, Lebo Mofokeng, who has not yet responded.
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