Elandsfontein residents raised their concerns last week regarding the sewage which often deposits its waste to Sizwe Secondary School, posing health risks to learners.

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The City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini responded that the sewage has been affecting the school for the past three years – with no solution to it.

Learners are forced to sometimes skip classes.

Dlamini said there is a problem with the electricity supply to the Hattingh Street sewer pump station due to illegal connections to the mini substation supplying the pump station.

“The city will resolve this by laying a new cable that is not susceptible to illegal connections,” said Dlamini.

“The sewer is building up in the sewer reticulation due to the electricity trips caused by overloading of the electrical reticulation.

“The overload is caused by illegal connections to the mini substation in Hattingh Street. The city has been sending a team to reset the switches when trips occurred,” he said.

“A health inspector visited the school on July 25. Once the report is completed it will be shared with the public,” he said.

“The water and sanitation department is attending to the Hattingh Street sewer pump station.

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“The communications and brand management department is responsible for relating communication.

“The city will do everything in its power to protect the electricity supply to the sewer pump station to ensure that illegal connections don’t cause an overload and damage the connection and circuit breakers,” said Dlamini.