Foul flood of sewage forces school to close
Drain leakage ‘nothing new’
Mpendulo Public Primary School sent pupils home after a flood of raw sewage fouled the school premises on Monday.
On The Rep’s arrival at the school on Tuesday, the storm water drain, situated outside the school yard, was leaking profusely, running into the school site and through the playground, restricting pupils from playing in the area.
Principal Mangaliso Nqezo said they had reported the matter to the department of education so an informed decision could be made to allow for children to be sent home and for the school to be closed.
“We decided to send the pupils home because this was a health hazard, especially for the younger pupils. They wanted to play in the sewage and that was a high risk.”
Nqezo said the drainage system was very poor in the area and added that storm water drain leakages were nothing new. He had, however, confirmed that it was the first time that they had to dismiss pupils because of the problem.
A parent, who did not want to be named, said they had received letters from the school informing them about the problem and were told that pupils must return when schools re-opened.
“What was also concerning for me was that street vendors who normally sell food items outside the school premises, were still operating near the sewage, selling food to our children.”
Eastern Cape department of education communications manager Loyiso Phulumani said the department dispatched a work inspector.
“Indeed a sewage pipe has burst outside the school, meaning it is a municipal pipeline and it is the responsibility of the municipality to repair the pipe.
“Some of the sewage spilled over into the school yard and because of the severity of this the pupils were sent home.
“The municipality took charge of the situation by sanitising the area. The report from the works inspector is that the area is dry, but the municipality is monitoring the situation.”
He indicated that the school will be closing today as scheduled.
Manager in the office of the mayor, Butsha Lali, said they had approached the Chris Hani district municipality as the water services authority provider, for them to assess the problem with the sewer line at the school.
“Work was done over three days due to the extent of the root blockage.
“The jetting machine could not cope and the team had to excavate. The team discovered 'big chunks of stones' which were cleared on Tuesday and rehabilitated on Wednesday.”
Lali said issues regarding water connections and sanitation related to the district municipality as the authority and provider, but they were there to facilitate all queries within the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.
“We urge people and institutions to approach our office directly so that we can relate to the district office and deal with these issues speedily,” he said.