Sunnyside campus stays closed, says Unisa
The university also did not indicate when the campus will be re-opened or what the current condition of the water is on the premises.
There’s still no indication as to when the Sunnyside Unisa campus will reopen, the university has said.
Since being closed nearly a month ago on June 7 as a health and safety measure after the water turned dark brown, the university said it “was still engaging with stakeholders to address the issue”.
Students were informed of the campus closure via the university student portal.
“Part of the measures involved enlisting the services of relevant officials to test the water,” Unisa spokesperson Thommy Huma told Rekord.
“Once the university has received the report from the relevant officials, it will decide on the reopening of the campus.”
The university said in late June that an external service provider had been appointed to test water for various bacteria.
The tests were reported to check for cholera at the municipal inlet point, the reservoir and the water line supply to the buildings and taps.
The test results were supposed to be available in 10 days however, the university did not disclose what the results of the tests were when asked.
The university also did not indicate when the campus will reopen or what the current condition of the water on the premises is.
According to reports, the discoloration of water in parts of central Pretoria was the result of sediment.
The Tshwane metro said the sediment gathered at the bottom of reservoirs during low-pressure times.
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink announced in his recent State of the Capital address that R450-million or R150-million each for the next three years would be allocated to addressing the ongoing water issues.
The metro also issued a warning to residents of Hammanskraal and surrounding areas to avoid drinking tap water or boil or filter it.
“Unisa has always maintained a commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive learning and working environment. Given the circumstances, we could not compromise the health and well-being of those connected to the Sunnyside campus.”
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closure and appreciate the understanding and support of our stakeholders during this time,” Huma said.
Tshwane metro disconnects 3 000 clients within two weeks
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
