Parents shut down Mams school due to lack of sanitation
The school in Mamelodi has been without water for almost three weeks and Department of Education failing to deliver mobile toilets.
The ongoing issue of sanitation at Zamintuthuko primary school in Mamelodi West led parents to shut down the school on Monday.
Parents burnt tyres at the school gate and prevented learners from entering the school premises.
This happened after the school has been without water for almost three weeks and the Department of Education failed to deliver mobile toilets, according to parents.
A parent at the school, Mapula Makhanya said, “We are concerned about the health of our children and the fact that 500 learners are currently sharing one toilet.
“The issue of sanitation is very serious and learners are unable to go to the bathrooms and can’t drink water because the taps are dry.
“We can’t have our children go to the back of the classes to relieve themselves on the ground,” said Makhanya.
The school toilets have not been working for the past three weeks.
SGB chairperson Francis Themba said the problem in the piping system is very old.
“The piping system of the toilet is very old and need to be repaired. The school has spent a lot of money hiring private plumbers but the problem has not been fixed by now,” said Themba.
“We wrote a letter to the district together with the principal about the problem and they promised to send people to come and fix the problem up to date.”
However, nothing has been done.
Convenor of Cosas (Congress of SA Students) Siyabonga Mlilo said the issue of sanitation at the school has been going on for a very long time.
“We have toilets that are not functioning properly and no learner should lack sanitation. We want the toilets fixed as soon as possible,” said Mlilo.
“This is not the only school in Mamelodi lacking toilets: Mamelodi secondary school is experiencing the same issue.”
Community leader, Marjorie Mthombeni said, “Our children will not go to a school that doesn’t have sanitation.”
“We have protested peacefully by writing letters, but the department is not taking us seriously. We have resorted to shutting down the school and no learner will be allowed to school until the toilets are fixed,” said Mthombeni.
Last week Friday the Department of Education promised to deliver mobile toilets.
Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that the department was aware of the situation at the Zamintuthuko primary school.
“Our Infrastructure unit has delivered mobile toilets to alleviate the pressure as an interim measure while the matter of plumbing and sanitation is investigated,” he said.
“The intention is to resolve the matter urgently.
“Unfortunately, some parents have rejected the mobile toilets,” said Mabona.
However, the department was engaging with various stakeholders to accept this interim relief.
Mabona said the department would continue to closely monitor the situation so that teaching and learning were not affected.
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