Finally there is relief for a Grahamstown school which has struggled without water for more than a year.
Finally there is relief for a Grahamstown school which has struggled without water for more than a year.
Forced since last June to use their playground as a toilet, with no water for washing hands or cooking school meals, more than 600 children between the ages of four and 14 at Samuel Ntsiko Primary School near Hlalani, had resolved to march in protest last week with their teachers and parents.
The municipality refused permission for the march – but pulled out all the stops to fix the problem.
In a matter of days there was running water in the school's taps and toilets and by yesterday things were back to normal.
School principal Nombulelo Koliti told Grocott's Mail yesterday that the water supply had been restored. He said it was hard to believe after struggling all this time.
The only area that remained without water was the administration block.
For the past year, the children and their teachers have been unable to practise basic hygiene.
With no water to flush the toilets, faecal matter and urine covered the school's only outdoor play area.
Makana Municipality executive mayor Zamuxolo Peter and acting municipal manager Thembinkosi Myalato visited the school last week. Speaking to Grocott's Mail last week, Myalato said the meeting with the principal and school governing body had been positive.
