Calling for urgent action on sewage crisis at local school

Laerskool Esparanza in Newlands is facing a battle of its own with a severe sewage crisis that has left teachers and learners grappling with unpleasant conditions.
Principal Krizel de Villiers expressed her frustration over the ongoing issue, which has significantly impacted the school environment.

“The stench was unbearable,” De Villiers stated, recounting the events that unfolded after the sewage system burst. “We tried to clean it and extract as much as we could, but it burst again just two weeks later. We had cleaning staff raking as much faeces as possible, but the situation remained dire.”

The principal noted that Johannesburg Water responded to the initial sewage overflow on March 6, pumping some of the waste away. However, the second flooding event rendered the school’s fields unusable. “It was so bad that we had to move three classes away from the field because the children said they couldn’t bear the smell. You can see that the water is seeping through the ground.”

To mitigate the situation, the school employed workers to clear the waste from the field. Despite repeated attempts to contact Johannesburg Water for assistance, De Villiers reported that the response had been inadequate. “They only attended when the drain burst the first time. When we report the issue now, it just says that it has been escalated.”

The ongoing sewage problems have not only disrupted daily activities but have also forced the school to cancel all events, creating further inconvenience for the school community.

The publication contacted Johannesburg Water for comment on the sewage issues, however, none was forthcoming by the time of publishing.

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