ILLEGAL dumping next to Manzomthombo High School, in Mfuleni, has led to illness and less teaching time, as the stench is too much to bear for pupils and teachers.
Using World Environment Day recently to highlight their plight, pupils at the school shared their experiences with peers at Fairdale and Bardale high schools, also near Mfuleni, on the struggles they each bear.
Manzomthombo High School pupils highlighted their learning conditions, which includes the adjacent field being used as an illegal dumping site.
There is a blocked drain nearby that is also affecting the reception area.
Teacher Nombeko Sogalela said some of the pupils at the school are suffering from chest pains and rashes due to the pollution.
“In summer, it becomes very bad. It becomes difficult to breathe and, most of the time, our pupils cannot concentrate because of the smell.
“Our kitchen gets affected as there are flies when they cook. We are disturbed by the situation because the food is not healthy due to the pollution and what is worse is that the kitchen itself is also near the polluted place.
“This does not give a nice picture of our school, you would swear that the school was built in an informal settlement area, but that is not how it is.
“People have now started polluting the area and it has now got inside our premises. Right in front of the reception, there is sewage water coming from the outside blocked drain.
“We would like the government to assist us with this pollution, as it becomes unbearable now, and by doing so our performance will improve. For people living in the township, education is the main key for survival,” said Sogalela.
Sogalela said even though the school is excelling academically, it would be better if the government can eradicate the pollution in the area.
“We have reported the matter to the City but nothing has been done so far, and we had some discussions with government officials and the community regarding the matter, but we were distracted by the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
The City’s mayoral committee member for water and waste Alderman Xanthea Limberg said residents, including those from the recently formed informal settlement, are likely contributing to the illegal dumping in the area, which can cause blockages in the network.
“The complaint was officially reported yesterday and the operational team is working to resolve the situation as a matter of urgency.
“The water and waste directorate was not aware of this until this complaint was received yesterday, and the blockage will be cleared as soon as possible. A decision on how best to clear the illegal dumping in the sink area – a natural depression in the ground neighbouring the school property and surrounds – will be made once an assessment has been concluded.
“As part of the investigation today, the Department of Solid Waste (DSW) visited the school and confirmed that refuse from the school is being collected regularly. The sink area acts as a natural ‘bowl’ in which water collects due to flood lines. The City calls on the community to please ensure that canals, and stormwater or sewer manholes are not used as dumping grounds, and that only human waste and toilet paper is flushed down the toilet, to prevent blockages.
This matter is receiving urgent attention to ensure the health and safety of the staff and pupils,” said Limberg.