Parents protest outside Kuyasa Primary School in Khayelitsha on Friday, August 21, after a sewage spill left parts of the school premises affected by an unbearable stench.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ ANA Studios
Learners of Kuyasa Primary School in Khayelitsha have missed over a week’s worth of lessons due to a sewage spill, as contractors called to fix the problem refuse to work in unsafe conditions, according to the Western Cape Education Department.
According to the school, learners have been forced to stay away since Thursday, August 20, because of an unbearable stench and raw sewage floating on the school premises, flowing from a burst sewer pipe.
The deputy chairperson of the school governing body stated that the situation has resulted in several pupils and staff members becoming ill. She described the stench as unbearable and the conditions at the school as “terrible.”
Parents protested at the school last Friday, August 21. The situation has sparked anger from residents, parents and the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF).
Following a visit to the school on Monday, August 24, accompanied by parents, other stakeholders, and officials from the Metro East Education District, KDF chairperson Mawande Jara condemned the situation, stating that the priority should be to get pupils and teachers back into the classroom.
He said: “What is disturbing most is that children are roaming around the streets, not at school. We do not accept the excuse, whether it comes from any department, that this is an infrastructure issue.
“There is no excuse and no finger-pointing between government departments. All government departments are responsible for this. They must ensure that children are back at school.”
KDF secretary Makhaya Jezile expressed that the organisation wants a clear plan to resolve the crisis, aiming to ensure that pupils return to school by Wednesday, August 26.
However, the WCED confirmed to the Cape Argus that the issue is unresolved and pointed to contractors who say they fear for their safety at the site.
Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said in a statement: “The WCED shares the concerns of parents, learners and staff regarding the sewage-related challenges.
“The health and safety of learners and staff remain our highest priority, and extensive efforts have been undertaken in partnership with the City of Cape Town to address the situation.
“Following the City's intervention to address the sewer infrastructure outside the school, the WCED arranged emergency measures, including the cleaning and sanitisation of affected areas and additional remedial work required to meet health and safety standards.
“These interventions were specifically intended to enable teaching and learning to resume without further disruption.
“Regrettably, the implementation of these measures was delayed yesterday when contractors on site were instructed not to proceed with the required work. The contractors further indicated that they felt unsafe in the environment and, as a result, critical remediation efforts could not be completed as scheduled.
“It is therefore disappointing that some stakeholders appear more interested in political point-scoring than in supporting practical solutions that would allow learners to return to a safe learning environment as quickly as possible.
“When efforts to resolve a problem are obstructed, it is learners who ultimately pay the price through the loss of valuable teaching and learning time.
“At a time when every school day matters, we urge all role players to place the interests of learners above political considerations and to work together to minimise further disruption to education.”
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