Pupils allegedly ordered to empty toilets at Mohlophe
"This matter is being investigated. The allegations are very serious and as the department we have one side of the story in the form of these allegations. Through an investigation we must get the other side of the story for proper action to be taken."
BURGERSFORT – Residents of Ga Mphethi are calling for the principal of Mohlophe Primary School to vacate his position.
This was after he allegedly ordered grade six and seven pupils at the school to empty human waste from the school’s Enviro Loo toilets last Tuesday.
According to a woman who resides next to the school, she was shocked when she saw a group of pupils digging excrement from the containers in the toilets.
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“They were there with their teacher, who was helping them,” she said.
Villagers also told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that they saw human waste in big maize meal sacks loaded into wheelbarrows and dumped next to a nearby field. The pictures and a video of the pupils removing the faeces are circulating on social media.
A community member, Calvin Kgoete, said the waste was removed from the field by the principal and some of the educators the following day, after the children had reported the matter to their parents.
“This is not the first time that this has occurred. Pupils were ordered to empty toilets five years ago and they sustained injuries due to some of the chemicals used in such toilets. Nothing was communicated with the community with regards to children emptying the toilets. The SGB consists of only two people.”
According to the residents, the school had, in the past, appointed people to empty the toilets.
A parent, Joseph Lewele said they formed a task team and reported the matter to the local Driekop circuit. “Nothing was communicated back to us after our visit to the offices. This school is in a deep crisis and we are seeking help. The principal is running the school like a spaza shop. Parents can only buy school uniforms at the school as they are not sold anywhere in the local stores,” alleged Lewele.
The residents said the incident has affected some of the pupils, as they are now vomiting when they eat.
When Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the school, the principal reiterated that he was not allowed to speak to the media. He indicated that all reports had been forwarded to the Limpopo Department of Education.
Limpopo education spokesman, Sam Makondo said everyone has the right to dignity, which should be respected at all times. “We are disappointed and will get to the bottom of these allegations.
“This matter is being investigated. The allegations are very serious and as the department we have one side of the story in the form of these allegations. Through an investigation we must get the other side of the story for proper action to be taken.”
The DA’s provincial leader Jacques Smalle confirmed filing a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate the department’s failure to provide adequate toilet facilities and sanitation at Mohlophe.
“The DA believes that no learner or teacher should be subjected to the inhumane and undignified conditions faced by those at Mohlophe. About 55,7 per cent of other schools in Limpopo are without proper sanitation, too.”
The Enviro Loo is a “dry or waterless sanitation system”. Liquid and solid waste are separated as they enter a container via the toilet bowl. Liquid waste drains to the bottom of the container while solid waste remains on a drying plate. The waste is exposed to continuous airflow that is driven through the unit by a forced aeration ventilation system. The movement of air is assisted by the ventilation extraction unit, positioned on top of the outlet vent pipe. As the air moves through the system, it dehydrates the solid waste as it migrates down the sloped drying plate. The liquid that has drained to the bottom of the container evaporates. Sunlight absorbed by a black inspection cover increases the ambient temperature within the container.
However, the maintenance procedures can be comfortably performed by its owners or community members should they choose. The maintenance schedule depends largely on the volume of usage and climatic conditions. While high usage units may need to be serviced and waste removed more often, the lower usage unit may need attention less frequently.
Source: Technology Exchange Lab (TEL) and www.enviro-loo.com.
