SEWAGE HELL AT THAMAGA JSS

Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council Chairperson Molatedi Tona Selala is calling for the immediate shutdown of Thamaga Junior Secondary School over a persistent sewage crisis that is putting learners and the surrounding community at serious risk.

Selala says they are considering the immediate closure of the school until the Ministry of Education resolves the sanitation problems that have plagued the school for years.

According to Selala, inspections conducted at the school confirmed stagnant wastewater, offensive odours, mosquito breeding and contamination affecting neighbouring homes.

The sanitation crisis had now been classified as a “HIGH” risk, making it impossible for the council to continue relying on temporary measures while learners and the surrounding community remain exposed.

“The school currently requires 40 vacuum tanker loads per month at a staggering P120 000, yet the problem remains unresolved,” he said.

Despite the substantial amount being spent every month to remove wastewater, Selala said the underlying problem continues to persist.

He accused the authorities responsible for the school of failing to resolve a problem that has been raised repeatedly over the years.

“This problem has persisted for many years. On numerous occasions, we have engaged both the school authorities and the leadership of the Education Department, yet the situation remains unresolved,” he said.

The council could no longer continue draining its resources on what Selala described as temporary stop-gap measures while the health of learners and residents remained at risk.

He said the council had a responsibility to protect public health and could not ignore the findings of inspections.

“As the highest political authority of this council, an institution entrusted with safeguarding public health, I propose the immediate closure of the school by our council until the Ministry of Education has fully addressed and rectified the sanitation problem at the school,” he said.

The P120 000 monthly cost translates to roughly P1.44 million a year if the current arrangement is allowed to continue, money that Selala argues is being spent without addressing the root cause of the problem yet council is currently financially constrained.

The situation also extends beyond the school grounds, with inspections reportedly finding wastewater-related contamination affecting neighbouring homes. There are concerns over mosquito breeding and stagnant wastewater adding another to the crisis.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Mmamikie Kamanakao, said she was not aware of the matter.

“I am currently in a meeting. I have not been updated on the matter. We will consult and understand the facts first,” she said.