Many pupils from Mary Waters High School couldn't get to school on Monday after heavy rain that started on Sunday brought flooding – and many of those who did get there were sent home with wet clothes and soggy shoes. “They were soaking wet when they arrived in school, making it impossible for them to sit in class," said principal Samuel Wessels.
Many pupils from Mary Waters High School couldn't get to school on Monday after heavy rain that started on Sunday brought flooding – and many of those who did get there were sent home with wet clothes and soggy shoes. “They were soaking wet when they arrived in school, making it impossible for them to sit in class," said principal Samuel Wessels.
"Many of them have only one pair of school shoes and one uniform.” “These learners have to walk through bushy and muddy areas. There's also a concern that some of their lives may be in danger, as the majority of them do not have any mode of transport to come to school. Only a few make use of a transport like taxis. The majority walk to school,” Wessels said.
Many of the pupils live in the nearby townships. There's a river that separates the school from the townships, which many pupils have to cross to get there.
Grade 8 pupil Lindokuhle Ndengane, said the river was a problem on rainy days. “We cannot cross the river when it's full. Sometimes we have to take off our shoes and cross the river. There's no bridge,” said Ndengane. Simisa Klaas, also in Grade 8, said the river was affecting pupils badly.
“Sometimes we cannot get to school. A friend of mine could not come to school on Monday because he sank in the water while trying to cross the bridge,” said Klaas.
Khanyiswa Kulati, in Grade 12, said pupils had resorted to taking other routes to get to school. “ Wessels said attendance had been quite low on Monday, but improved on Tuesday. “We are still not back to our normal attendance,” he said.
“We do not complain about the rain because we need it, but it's too much these days, he said.
