THE National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has expressed shock and outrage after discovering raw sewage flowing into school premises in Welkom, warning that the conditions pose a serious health hazard to both learners and teachers.
During its weeklong oversight visit to the Free State last week, the committee found that pupils at Welkom Secondary School and Lenakeng Technical High School have to navigate flowing waste water and jump over pools of raw sewage just to enter their school gates.
The waste reportedly stems from ageing municipal sewer infrastructure and blocked drains.
Committee chairperson Joy Maimela said what the MPs witnessed was “unacceptable, inhumane and dangerous”, accusing the Matjhabeng Local Municipality of failing in its basic responsibilities.
“Sewerage at the gate and inside the school premises is unacceptable – no child must jump over sewer to enter a school. We call on the municipality to urgently address this problem,” Maimela said.
The oversight visit focused on infrastructure readiness, scholar transport and broader conditions affecting teaching and learning across the Lejweleputswa and Fezile Dabi districts.
However, the sewage crisis overshadowed the rest of the programme, with MPs warning that the situation could soon trigger a full-blown public health emergency.
Teachers and pupils at the affected schools are reportedly forced to endure the stench daily, while seeping wastewater is already causing structural damage to school buildings.
The committee urged the provincial Department of Education to work closely with the Matjhabeng Local Municipality to identify all affected schools and develop a comprehensive remedial plan.
It also called for a province-wide audit of dilapidated school infrastructure.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain comment from Free State Department of Education spokesperson Howard Ndaba were not successful.
The Matjhabeng Local Municipality has also not yet issued a public response to the committee’s findings. – Staff Reporter