A high school in Pietermaritzburg has attributed its poor performance in last year’s matric results to the water crisis, which forced it to function for half days as teachers and pupils could not use the ablution facilities. 

In 2024 Amakholwa High School’s matric class achieved a pass rate of 98% but last year’s class declined to a 66% pass.

It is one of three schools in Snathing in Edendale whose taps would frequently run dry for months, leaving pupils and teachers without flushing or drinking water.

The intermittent water supply also impacted the school’s feeding scheme programme as food could not be cooked at the school.

Snathing Junior Primary School and KwaMpungose Senior Primary School were also affected, with learners wearing casual clothes as there was no water at their homes to wash the school uniforms every day.

Amakholwa’s governing body chairperson, Nomusa Radebe, attributed the drop in the pass rate to, among other challenges, the water crisis which she said had been problematic for several months last year.

“The water crisis is a major contributor because it is impossible to teach when there is no water, and feeding scheme meals cannot be cooked.  

“Since the opening of the schools (this year), we have been facing a water crisis, which led to teaching and learning only taking place between 7.30 am and 12 midday – this is what happened for months last year. 

“Children and teachers have to go home early to use toilets,” she said. 

The odour of stinking toilets (was unbearable).

Many areas in Pietermaritzburg are faced with a water crisis, leading to residents hiring bakkies to fetch water from other areas, while others walk long distances with 25 liters of water containers on their heads. 

Few families can afford to have boreholes on their property and some of those with boreholes are generous enough to allow their neighbours to connect.

Radebe said if municipal water trucks arrive to deliver water in the ward, they end up running empty before the schools get their share. 

Parents said their children lose important classroom time, and teachers are struggling to complete the annual syllabus. 

“Last year we had the same problem, and it seems as if this year we are going to face the same situation,” said one of the parents. 

However, Radebe said the school governing bodies (SGB) from the three schools had met and resolved to install a shared borehole, although this would come at a significant financial cost. 

Radebe, who is also a member of a local clinic’s governing structure, said the clinic is faced with a similar crisis. 

Ward 11 Councillor Sanele Zuma attributed the water crisis to certain individuals whom he accused of deliberately sabotaging water infrastructure to provoke community members to engage in service delivery protests.

It was reported in August last year that residents were left without water after a pump supplying water to the area was deliberately set alight. 

He said illegal water connections were adding to the problems. 

“As the illegal water connection grows in other wards, my ward ends up with low water pressure,” he said. 

Nokulunga Zondi , a member of KwaMpungose’s SGB, said during last year’s final examination, learners who were scheduled to write two subjects per day ended up writing one so that they could go home early.

“Education officials are aware of the water crisis in these three schools. 

“The three schools are still trying to find alternative means of getting water, including discussing getting a shared borehole,” he said. 

IFP member of the KwaZulu-Natal education portfolio, MPL Mncedisi Maphisa, said all schools should have essential services such as water and electricity. 

“As the IFP, we strongly believe that when it comes to education, there should be no challenge, and we should make sure that everything is in order,” he said.

He said the Department of Education should have a healthy working relationship with water suppliers, such as municipalities. 

DA spokesperson for education, Sakhile Mngadi, put the blame on the Msunduzi Municipality, saying it is responsible for the inefficiency in service delivery. 

“We are now used to hearing about the schools that are affected by the municipality’s inability to provide service delivery,”  said Mngadi.

He said the Department of Education cannot be blamed, as it does not provide water to the schools.

“It is the widespread issue in this province, and it is something that was even highlighted by the Auditor-General when they were commenting on the state of KZN municipalities.

“People often look at this and think that it only affects residents, but it affects every aspect of society, including schools,” said Mngadi. 

He called on the department to intervene by providing alternative water sources for the schools, including installing water tanks.

Msunduzi spokesperson Ntobeko Ngcobo confirmed that Ward 11 in Snathing faces ongoing water supply challenges, which affect the schools and other community facilities.

“The municipality is concerned about the loss of learning and teaching time and the inconvenience experienced by residents,” Ngcobo said.

She said the water supply challenges in the area were a combination of long-standing infrastructure constraints and operational disruptions, including infrastructure failures, power outages affecting pump stations, illegal connections, and repeated incidents of vandalism and sabotage of municipal water infrastructure.

“Cable theft and damage to pump stations have further disrupted operations and resulted in delays while repairs and replacements are undertaken,”  she said.

Ngcobo said the city was currently working on restoring the water supply. 

“Efforts are also underway to stabilise infrastructure where possible, despite repeated setbacks caused by vandalism and illegal activities,” she said.

The provincial Education Department had not responded to a request for comment.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za

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