A persistent sewage crisis has left Laerskool Esperanza Primary School, in Newlands, battling unbearable conditions, with staff, learners, and nearby residents living under the shadow of a serious public health hazard.

Since May, raw sewage has seeped through the school’s grounds, carrying with it a foul stench that drifts into classrooms and neighbouring streets.

Principal Anthony Louw said repeated calls for help from Johannesburg Water (JW) have gone unanswered in any meaningful way.

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“We’ve been phoning JW continuously, and each time we receive reference numbers, but nothing gets resolved.

“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 Northcliff Melville Times first reported on the issue in early May, noting that, despite repeated escalation to JW, the situation remained unchanged.

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On May 23, JW acknowledged the overflow and confirmed that teams had been dispatched to assess the site. However, the utility admitted that the problem is more complex than initially thought, requiring major technical intervention. The issue remains unresolved, as the sewage problem persists at the school.

The crisis has sparked deep concern, with fears of illness spreading among the children who spend their days in close proximity to the waste.

Pupils at Laerskool Esperanza Primary continue to learn under intolerable conditions, with the stench and sewage a daily reminder of the urgent need for a solution.

JW has been sent a media query regarding the crisis. The story will be updated once a formal response is received.

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