The inhumane circumstances children have to endure in the school environments in Matjhabeng are a grave cause for concern.
“A school and its environment should be a safe zone for the pupils and the surrounding community. The contrary is the status quo at St Andrews in Welkom,” says Coreen Malherbe, DA councillor Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
Malherbe says the roads and fields surrounding this school, situated on the outskirts of Welkom on the banks of Toronto Pan, are plagued by water leaks and sewage spillages that are left unattended by the municipality.
“The lack of service delivery is creating a health and safety hazard for the community members as well as homes in the area,” she says.
In February, sewage engulfed the walkways next to the school and its hockey fields, spilling onto the grounds.
“The sports grounds have always been a safe space for students to gather and carry out their respective sports practices. Sadly, this is no longer the case. The walkway next to the school leads to the St Helena Hospital and various public sporting facilities, placing the public in danger as they have to cross the street, unable to use the walkways.”
The municipality is fully aware of the sewage spill and ongoing freshwater leaks at the school and surrounding areas. These leaks add to the ongoing water shortages around town.
“The municipality has ignored the plight of the community, and the DA in Matjhabeng will now request an urgent intervention through the provincial Department of Education to safeguard the pupils of Matjhabeng as the municipality does not consider the safeguarding of our youth a priority. We will put daily pressure on Matjhabeng’s Department of Infrastructure to fix the crisis and urgently ensure the safety of the community, she says.
Added to the plight of the school and its leaners are the roads around it. Badly potholed and deteriorating road surfaces make it virtually impossible to drive there. The entire area is hazardous and unsafe.
