The DA councillor in the JB Marks Local Municipality, Johan Zerwick, says 1200 learners are forced to attend school without water and no-one is willing to assist in resolving this. Zerwick says the school principal raised a complaint with the party last week and upon their immediate response to get the municipality to attend to the matter, the call fell on deaf ears. Recently, residents of Khuma raised their concerns on social media about the Nkululekweni Primary School that has been without water and electricity for more than a year now.

The department of education is yet to reply.

Meanwhile, Zerweick says on Monday construction to fix the water supply was underway, but today there is no work being done and the school has not been informed why construction has stopped.

"The school has at least 1200 learners and for two weeks the children, teachers and supporting staff have been forced to endure the scorching heatwave without a drop of water," he says. "The principal informed the DA that children get dehydrated and are falling ill as a result," he adds. 

He further adds that the water problem is negatively affecting the school’s sanitation as toilets can’t be flushed causing an unbearable stench at the school. Zerwick has threatened to approach the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) if the situation remains unresolved. He says the children have a right to learn in a conducive learning environment with basic resources such as available water at all times.

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