Laerskool Esparanza Primary School still endures sewage stench
What was once a sports field at Laerskool Esparanza Primary School now lies abandoned, turned into a foul stream of sewage. The children’s classrooms and playgrounds sit just metres away from the stench and filth.
A persistent sewage overflow at Laerskool Esperanza Primary in Newlands has left children learning in conditions no child should have to endure.
Since May, raw sewage has streamed through the school grounds and into surrounding streets, forcing learners and teachers to navigate their days surrounded by stench, filth, and health risks.
Read more:Â Ongoing sewage crisis puts Laerskool Esparanza Primary at risk
For principal Anthony Louw, the reality is both heartbreaking and infuriating. “It looks like the pipe is blocked, and now there’s a trench where filth and sewage flow down along the school fence into the street. My Grade R class is right next to it. This is dangerous. It’s unhygienic, and it’s unfair to our learners.”
The crisis has already robbed learners of vital opportunities. Sports activities were cancelled earlier this year, after sewage flooded the playing fields, forcing the school to move events to other venues at significant cost. “It cost us quite a bit to transport the learners, but more than that, it cost them the joy of being able to use their own sports fields.”
For the youngest learners, the Grade Rs in mobile classrooms, the impact is even more severe.
Deputy principal Francois Pretorius described how sewage running alongside the classrooms has changed the rhythm of their school day. “These are children who need fresh air and play to break away from the schoolwork, but their play area is right next to the sewage flow. We’ve had to split breaks and move each class to different parts of the grounds, just to keep them away from it. It’s not only disruptive; it’s exposing them to something no child should have to see, or smell.”
Also read:Â Burst manhole spews sewage near Greymont Bridge
Many walk their children to school daily, forced to pass the sewage spill. “Parents are fuming about the smell and the health of the Grade R learners being in jeopardy. The community is ready to protest,” said Louw.
Johannesburg Water previously confirmed the overflow, in May when the publication reported on it, and admitted the problem required major technical intervention, but nearly five months later, the sewage continues to flow, leaving children, staff, and residents to bear the daily burden of a hazard that shows no sign of being resolved.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!
