Parents of Fleurhof Primary School are demanding answers as the school marks its second water outage this year, with taps remaining dry since September.

The problem allegedly stems from an unpaid bill between the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and Johannesburg Water (JW).

Speaking to the Roodepoort Record, parents Nomvula Radebe, Qumashe Sedumedi, and Mthuthuzeli Timothy expressed desperation, stating that they’ve tried engaging with the GDE to no avail.

“This problem is causing a delay for the learners, especially now since it’s exam time,” they said. “The school comes out early at noon, and the learners don’t get enough time to focus on their studies.”

The parents also highlighted that the school is non-fee-paying and believe the GDE should make arrangements with JW to resolve the issue.

Additionally, they raised concerns about security at the school, citing that there’s no security; there are only patrollers.

There have also been reported issues of overcrowding. In 2024, the community held a protest demanding that more schools be built in the area, as Fleurhof Primary is the only government school.

The Record has sent detailed questions to the GDE and JW, and, as soon as a response is received, a follow-up article will be published.