School’s loos down to 2 after fire
Cops open malicious damage case
POLICE in Mbizana have launched an investigation after a new R10 000 portable toilet donated to Luna Primary School was torched – allegedly by protesters.
Five-year-old schoolgirl Lumka Mkhethwa drowned in a pit toilet at the school earlier this year.
The Grade R pupil’s body, still clad in her school uniform, was found at the bottom of an old pit latrine a day after she went missing.
Subsequently, Johannesburg- company Enviro Loo donated four portable toilets to the school for use by pupils.
Police spokeswoman Captain Edith Mjoko yesterday confirmed that a case of malicious damage to property had been opened after the torching of the toilet last week.
A second toilet was partially damaged in the flames.
“We suspect they were burnt during a service delivery protest,” Mjoko said.
Angry Eastern Cape education bosses have meanwhile described the incident as “thuggery”.
“This is senseless.
“It had nothing to do with the school.
“We are disgusted, shocked and annoyed by this act,” said education spokesman Mali Mtima yesterday.
He said they wanted to meet with all stakeholders involved in the running of the school, including faith and community-based organisations.
The worry was that good samaritans wanting to lend a helping hand to the school would be more reluctant to do so in future.
Enviro Loo’s operations manager Roland Bishop said the toilets were 100% waterless and instead used a chemical to break down waste into compost which could be used to fertilise gardens. A single toilet costs nearly R10 000.
“We were absolutely shocked,” he said.