As the second term of the 2024 academic year gets into full swing with week two commencing, learners at Thembelihle Primary School find themselves in a muddy situation and unable to access the school’s premises due to sewage blockages. This week’s bad weather has also affected them and some learners in the lower grades have not been attending school.
The community of the school which is situated in eMaphupheni, Benoni in the East Rand, have expressed their dissatisfaction and safety concerns. One of them who is a parent, Cynthia Lusenga, explained that children in the area need to cross floods of water and jump pipes all around the school premises due to the incomplete construction which has been going on for almost two years now.
A member of the School Governing Body (SGB), Akhona Duku agrees with Lusenga and says she is worried that being at the school has become risky.
“For learners and teachers to come into the school is a high risk and a safety concern. Sometimes, teachers have to park their cars further away from the school premises and walk into the school which puts their cars at risk. The learners sometimes enter the school with the hem of their pants already wet and sometimes even muddy,” Duku explained.
According to Ward 65 Councillor, Siyabonga Moloi, the biggest problem in the area is the sewer line that is connected to the storm drain, making it difficult for the current road constructions to continue.
“Another problem leading to the delays is the lack of intergovernmental cooperation between the roads infrastructure and sanitation departments”, said Moloi.
Community Liaison Officer (CLO) of the current construction company, Nomapha Baleka, says the school is unfortunately built on a wetland area and that the unserviced sewers which excrete water, are hindering the progress of the construction of the road.
“We are well aware of the danger that this incomplete project poses to the learners, hence we always try to prioritize their safety. We have a safety officer everyday at the school entrance to ensure that learners safely enter the school, she said.
Moloi, in closing, said that the project should have taken at least eight months to complete, however delays were caused by changing companies and noncompliance from the responsible departments.
Speaking to The Curriculum, Gauteng Department of Education Spokesperson, Steve Mabona said that the Department is aware of the situation at Thembelihle Primary School, and we are in constant communication with the respective Municipality for necessary intervention.