Kuyasa Primary School learners miss classes due to sewage leaks

Learners at Kuyasa Primary School in Khayelitsha have missed a week of classes following recurring sewage leaks. Parents closed the school last Friday due to health concerns and are demanding a formal inspection by a health official before allowing students to return.

Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Deputy Director-General Alan Meyer stated that contractors have unblocked the sewage pipes and will replace the ground at the spill site. While Meyer requested that students return to school, local officials and parents noted that the area remains malodorous. A permanent fix for the school's drainage system is estimated to take approximately two months.

Community leaders and representatives from SANCO have criticized the department's response time, suggesting that remediation efforts were delayed and that the department would have acted more swiftly in wealthier areas like Camps Bay. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond noted that previous cleanup efforts were hindered because contractors reported feeling unsafe in the environment.