Water tanks donated to Limpopo schools

SEKHUKHUNE – The Department of Water and Sanitation has allocated 431 water tanks to various schools in Limpopo, and 253 of these have already been installed at schools and are in use.

The department wants to ensure that no school is without water as the country intensifies its fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.Some schools that have benefited from this roll-out are in Sekhukhune District Municipality, Giyani, Tzaneen, Maruleng, Ba-Phalaborwa, and Greater Letaba Municipalities.

Water tankers (trucks) have also been dispatched to refill the tanks regularly so that learners and teachers have an uninterrupted water supply.

This is in line with the government’s resolve to ensure that everyone has access to clean and reliable water and to keep up with recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

The department’s spokesman, Sputnik Ratau, said this is to create an enabling environment for learners and teachers to regularly wash their hands with soap and reduce the spread of the virus.

The department will ensure that water tankers (trucks) draw water from different water treatment works and boreholes across the province to refill the installed tanks at periodic intervals. Minister of the Department Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, appealed to communities to take care of the tanks provided to schools and report any criminal activities, whether it is theft or destruction of the tanks.

She also reminded the communities to continue to practice restraint when using water.

“While you are washing your hands, keep in mind that South Africa is a water-scarce country and therefore you should avoid water wastage. Let us save this precious water resource we have. We do encourage people to practice the culture of washing their hands regularly, especially during critical times of Covid-19 pandemic, but let us also use this water prudently,” she said.