After decades of financial difficulties and a struggle to pay its water bills, Luzuko Primary School, in Gugulethu, is getting free water after the provincial government sank a borehole at the school.
At an event organised to mark the initiative on Wednesday July 25, Education MEC Debbie Schafer said the alternative water usage installation forms part of the comprehensive operational plan that the government was developing in schools. She said as water usage continued to be a problem, more people were becoming concerned about where their water would come from.
Ms Schafer said her department was doing all it could to provide schools with alternative water usage options.
There were good vibes at the school on Wednesday as Premier Helen Zille, the Ms Schafer, the school principal and local councillors turned on the water supply.
Ms Zille appealed to the children to learn more about water usage and said as they grew they needed to be aware that water was a precious resource.
“We have to look after water very carefully,” she said. “When it was not raining, we nearly ran out of water. We must be aware that people cannot live without water. You cannot wash, eat and do many other things,” she said.
She also encouraged pupils and teachers to recycle water. With the school in the heart of poverty stricken Gugulethu, the borehole is expected to help the community too.
Acting principal Noxolo Tongo, said they were “elated” to be part of a water saving programme and that money previously spent on huge water bills, could now be better spent.
“We will now be able to use the money to better equip our pupils to better their future.”
Ms Tongo said her school had been identified by proportional representation (PR) councillors, Deon Basson and Lindela Tshwete to whom she was grateful.
“Councillor Basson is more like a father to this school. There are times I would think we are abusing him by asking this and that. But he is always up to the task.
“When we told him about our problem, he never hesitated to come see us. This is his project. We are really grateful to have somebody like him,” she said.
Mr Basson said he was happy that the children – and the school as a whole – would have water.
He said it is their duty as councillors to bring services to people and encouraged the residents of Ward 41 to always call the City or him if they needed help regarding services.