Jouberton, Klerksdorp – Parents and community members, led by the civic organization Sano, marched to Sediko Primary School this week, demanding immediate government intervention to address the school’s severe lack of basic services, including safe drinking water, electricity, and adequate sanitation.
The protest highlighted the squalid conditions at the school, where learners currently depend on a limited number of mobile toilets, most of which are reported to be non-functional and unhygienic. The water crisis is so acute that taps only drip intermittently, forcing children to sometimes relieve themselves in the open spaces between teachers’ cars.
A spokesperson for Sano delivered a fiery condemnation of the government’s response, stating, “I am not afraid to say our revolution has been stolen. We are led by the corrupt people in our government. We are led by the people who don’t care about our children.”
The community’s memorandum of demands calls for urgent action and accountability, specifically for the long-delayed renovations at the school to be completed.
In response, a spokesperson for the North West Department of Education acknowledged the issues but provided a contrasting assessment of the progress. The spokesperson stated that the contractor is on site and that the school is “at 90% completion.”
Regarding the critical lack of toilets, the spokesperson said, “I went to see them… those toilets are almost ready. The only challenge is connecting water.”
The department outlined a tentative timeline, suggesting that learners could be partially placed in some renovated classes by October. The spokesperson emphasized the need to prioritize classrooms once water and electricity are connected, adding, “I’ll be expecting at least by the end of September… a detailed project plan” from the implementing agent, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
Despite these assurances, parents and the civic organization remain skeptical, insisting that the health and dignity of the scholars, who are between four and six years old, cannot wait for further bureaucratic delays. The situation at Sediko Primary School continues to be a flashpoint for community frustration over perceived government neglect.