Mining activities prompt alarm as school and homes suffer damage
EMALAHLENI – Parents in Emalahleni’s Vosman township are boiling with frustration over the persistent water crisis, with the situation at Jeremiah Mdaka school reaching a breaking point. Children are forced to relieve themselves in the bushes due to blocked toilets caused by the severe water shortage.
A disturbing video circulating on social media shows learners from Jeremiah Mdaka navigating behind the school to use the toilet, highlighting the dire consequences of the water scarcity.
“The school gets water only once a week, delivered by the Emalahleni Local Municipality in a JoJo tank,” said a member of the School Governing Body (SGB) speaking on behalf of parents. “The water is never enough, and even the large JoJo tanks at the school are only half-filled.”
“Sometimes, the principal pleads with the municipality for more water, but it arrives late, long after learners have gone home,” he explained. “The toilets are unusable because of the lack of water, and many are blocked. Learners have no choice but to go to the bushes, creating an unpleasant and unhealthy environment.”
Echoing these concerns, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) PR Councillor in Vosman, Annah Maseremula, said, “The lack of water at Jeremiah Mdaka is a major concern for the community. Learners can’t use the toilets, and their health and safety, especially the girls’, are at risk. The principal has reported this issue to the municipality numerous times, but the only response is a weekly water tanker delivery.”
“This situation at times forces the school to release learners early, disrupting their education,” Maseremula added.
Marcia Langa, a resident of Siyanqoba, another affected area, shared, “Our water struggles are far from over. The water tankers they used to send had ringworms inside! It’s depressing. We’ve been living without water and electricity for seven years. The municipality clearly doesn’t care about our needs.”
The lack of water has forced some residents to invest in solar systems for electricity and purchase water tankers for personal use.
“I have school-going children who need to bathe. The water tankers are unreliable, and the municipality sometimes delivers undrinkable, dirty water,” said Vusi Hlongwane, another resident. “We deserve proper taps in our yards, not dirty water deliveries. We’re tired of living without water and electricity!”
The plight of Vosman residents highlights the urgent need for the Emalahleni Local Municipality to address the water crisis effectively and prioritize the health and well-being of its community. The school also raised concerns over damage caused by mining activities. Themba Simelane, a member of the School Governing Body (SGB) at Jeremiah Mdaka School, said, “We are very concerned about the mines surrounding the school and our homes because whenever there’s blasting, the school gets damaged. Ceilings inside the school boardroom and other classrooms have collapsed, and windows have been broken.”
Ester Sindane, a 71-year-old resident who had to pick up the pieces after her house was damaged, said, “My house is damaged, I no longer have a ceiling, and my house windows have cracked, requiring replacement. I have reported this, but the mining people are not doing anything about it.”
“I used my pension money to fix the house, and I depend on a grant. I have 5 grandchildren, and I am struggling,” she expressed.
The Highveld Chronicle attempted to contact a spokesperson from the Department of Mineral Resources in Emalahleni, but he refused to comment on this matter.
